What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingErgothioneine
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientFullerenes
AntimicrobialPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningDiamond Powder
AbrasiveAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Arginine, Ergothioneine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Fullerenes, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Betaine, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Parfum, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Diamond Powder, Alpha-Arbutin, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Carnosine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantErythritol
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Retinoate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Linoleate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Propionate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantBifida Ferment Extract
HumectantCamellia Reticulata Seed Oil
EmollientHexapeptide-8
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantWater, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Erythritol, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinyl Retinoate, Retinyl Linoleate, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Propionate, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polysorbate 80, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Resveratrol, Bifida Ferment Extract, Camellia Reticulata Seed Oil, Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oligopeptide-1, Carnosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCarnosine is a dipeptide made from two amino acids.
This ingredient helps:
Glycation is the process of sugars binding to and damaging proteins. Too much sugar in our skin can lead to damaged collagen, contributing to factors of aging.
Carnosine is water-soluble and is not able to travel deeper layers of skin. This leads to some doubt about whether it can boost collagen in skin, since collagen is located in the deeper layers of skin.
Fun fact: Carnosine can be naturally found in our muscles and brain.
Learn more about CarnosineCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide AS is formally known as Ceramides 4 and 5.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1.
It is naturally found in skin and part of the intercellular "mortar" holding everything together in your outermost layer.
EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
What makes Ceramide EOP special is its ultra-long fatty acid chain; this unique structure allows it to bridge the lipid layers in your skin barrier to prevent water loss (something no other ceramide can do).
Low levels of Ceramide EOP have been found in people with eczema and psoriasis.
Using it together with other ceramides, cholesterol, and linoleic acid have been shown to meaningfully improve hydration and reduce water loss.
In one clinical study, a regimen using Ceramide EOP, NP, and AP led to significant symptom improvements in patients with eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin in just 4 weeks.
You'll usually see concentrations between 0.1-0.5% in formulations. Overall, this is a well-tolerated and safe ingredient for cosmetic use.
Learn more about Ceramide EOPCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCeramide NS is formally known as Ceramide 2. It is one of the major ceramides in the stratum corneum (outermost layer of skin) plays a role in forming a protective barrier.
Due to its structure, skin lipids can be packed tightly and in turn, this strengthens the barrier and reduces water loss.
Studies show conditions like atopic dermatitis can worsen when ceramide NS levels are low.
Learn more about Ceramide NsHyaluronic 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 AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneThis form of hyaluronic acid is produced through fermentation.
According to a manufacturer, it has a positive charge by ionic binding to help moisturize and give hair a smooth feel. This is why you'll find this ingredient in shampoos and body washes.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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