This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Hyaluronic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
ChelatingXylitol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventTocopherol
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantRaspberry Ketone
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Betaine, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Benzyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingPropanediol
SolventSea Salt Extract
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningStearoyl Inulin
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSilanetriol
Limonene
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAlgae Extract
EmollientGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Sea Salt Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phospholipids, Stearoyl Inulin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Limonene, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Linalool, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Algae Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, CI 42090
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 GlycolDisodium 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 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 AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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