What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
Abrasive
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWine Extract
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Water, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Lactobacillus Ferment, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Wine Extract, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Glycine, Alanine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Betaine, Allantoin, Fructose, Maltose, Trehalose, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, 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.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 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
