What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Surfactant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Ectoin, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Xylitol
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Copper PCA
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oligopeptide-10
Antimicrobial
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
C12-13 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Xylitol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Citric Acid, Sodium PCA, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Salicylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Zinc PCA, Copper PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-10, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Sodium Chloride, Tocopherol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Reviews
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
