What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Cyanocobalamin, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningVitex Agnus-Castus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingThiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Carnitine Hcl
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, Vitex Agnus-Castus Fruit Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Niacinamide, Carnitine Hcl, Panthenol, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 CitrateWater. 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
