What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Squalane
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXylityl Sesquicaprylate
AntimicrobialAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Squalane, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Levulinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Anhydroxylitol, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Anisate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
Steareth-20
CleansingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Caffeine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dipeptide-2, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Steareth-20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water