What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSucrose Polystearate
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyamide-5
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-3
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Sucrose Polystearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Polyamide-5, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Yeast Extract, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Hexapeptide-11, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-3, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Acetyl Glutamine, Folic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, T-Butyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Pentylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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