What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Lycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingIsomalt
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Betaine
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glucose
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Lycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Isomalt, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Betaine, Ceramide NP, Phospholipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Glucose, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Citrus Junos Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIlex Guayusa Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Jania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningMomordica Cochinchinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Cellulose
AbsorbentCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSteareth-20
CleansingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Citrus Junos Seed Oil, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maltodextrin, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Momordica Cochinchinensis Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Sodium Carrageenan, Adenosine, Biotin, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Chrysin, Dipeptide-2, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Hydroxyacetophenone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Cellulose, CI 77891, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lecithin, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Citrate, Steareth-20, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Xanthan Gum, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
