What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentHedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Soy Flour
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Medicago Sativa Seed Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Flour, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantOleic Acid
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSodium Phytate
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Lactic Acid
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Oleic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Menthyl Lactate, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sodium Phytate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 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