What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
HumectantVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLevulinic Acid
PerfumingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPantolactone
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingTranexamic Acid
AstringentTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMagnesium Chloride
Alcohol
AntimicrobialGlutathione
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Betaine, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, Pantolactone, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ubiquinone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Magnesium Chloride, Alcohol, Glutathione, Polysorbate 80, Calcium Gluconate, Pyridoxine Hcl, BHT, Yeast Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Disodium EDTA
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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 GlycerinSodium 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