What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSucrose Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Mannitol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXylitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Rhamnose
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sucrose Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Mannitol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Rhamnose, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyisobutene
Calcium Ketogluconate
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingZea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Calcium Ketogluconate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silica, Sodium Bisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Zea Mays Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium PCA, Niacinamide, Sodium Benzoate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycosaminoglycans, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Sodium 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
