What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Straw Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Soyethyl Morpholinium Ethosulfate
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Avena Sativa Straw Extract, Persea Gratissima Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitol, Glucose, Anhydroxylitol, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Soyethyl Morpholinium Ethosulfate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Glyceryl Glucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Polyquaternium-39
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Tetrasodium EDTA
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Decyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Myristic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sorbitol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Polyquaternium-39, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Tetrasodium EDTA, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Benzophenone-4, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
