What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCopper PCA
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTamarindus Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Propanediol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Copper PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Tamarindus Indica Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Levulinic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Pectin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
