What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSphingolipids
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSymphytum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingWater, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sphingolipids, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Polyglutamic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Gluconolactone, Beta-Glucan, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Sodium Citrate, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Phytate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Centella Asiatica Extract
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantGlucosamine Hcl
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHamamelis Virginiana Water, Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Gluconate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sorbitol, Proline, Fructooligosaccharides, Glucosamine Hcl, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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