What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Vinegar
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Protoplasts
HumectantMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningPlantago Asiatica Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningGlucuronic Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglycerin-3, Niacinamide, Vinegar, Lactobacillus Ferment, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panax Ginseng Root Protoplasts, Malt Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Plantago Asiatica Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Glucuronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, C12-14 Alketh-12, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Betaine, Panthenol, Xylitol, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
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.
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidSodium 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
