What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantUbiquinone
AntioxidantZinc PCA
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialBetaine
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPPG-3 Dipivalate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristyl Myristate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingErythritol
HumectantParfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialAminopropyl Dimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingIsostearic Acid
CleansingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAngelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAlpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingPyrola Incarnata Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Betaine, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, PPG-3 Dipivalate, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polysorbate 60, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, CI 77891, Sorbitan Tristearate, Erythritol, Parfum, Alcohol, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Carbomer, Trisodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Caffeine, Potassium Hydroxide, Isostearic Acid, Sodium Metaphosphate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Linalool, Tocopherol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Limonene, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, CI 77491, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Pyrola Incarnata Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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