What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingAcetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-30
Skin ConditioningCopper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Sh-Heptapeptide-12 Sp
Skin ConditioningTulipa Gesneriana Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCrocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingKinetin
Skin ConditioningIndole Acetic Acid
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Alpha-Arbutin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Tetrapeptide-30, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Palmitoyl Sh-Heptapeptide-12 Sp, Tulipa Gesneriana Flower Extract, Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Kinetin, Indole Acetic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Betaine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAcetamidoethoxyethanol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingResveratrol
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin ConditioningHeptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin ConditioningDiamond Powder
AbrasiveMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenylpropanol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Menthyl Lactate, Resveratrol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Diamond Powder, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenylpropanol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 ingredient is a combination of two AHAs, lactic acid and glycolic acid. It has exfoliating properties
We don't have a description for Polyvinyl Alcohol yet.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum