What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningWater, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Water
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientActinidia Arguta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Actinidia Arguta Fruit Extract, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 GlycerinWater. 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