What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylate-13
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Octapeptide-45
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Lactoferrin
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Betaine
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Chloride
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Polyacrylate-13, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Octapeptide-45, Hexapeptide-11, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Lactoferrin, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Xylitol, Propanediol, Anhydroxylitol, Phospholipids, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Methicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil
Masking
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Malic Acid
Buffering
Octanal
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Petrolatum, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycerin, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, Beeswax, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Malic Acid, Octanal, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Quercetin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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 HydroxideWater. 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
