What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSilica
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Beeswax, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethiconol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Carbomer, Laureth-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingAlpinia Galanga Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSilanetriol
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMethylpropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zea Mays Starch, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Niacinamide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Alpinia Galanga Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silanetriol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Methylpropanediol, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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