What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylcellulose
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Methylpropanediol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Raffinose, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Madecassoside, Beta-Glucan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylcellulose, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-51
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingLecithin
EmollientC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Acetyl Glutamine, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Lactic Acid, Lecithin, C12-13 Pareth-9, Menthyl Lactate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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