What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingHydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Carnitine
Cleansing
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCodonopsis Lanceolata Extract
Antioxidant
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningDigitaria Ciliaris Flower Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPaeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicPolygonum Odoratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Hydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Acetyl Glutamine, Lecithin, Carnitine, Alanine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Caffeine, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Bacillus, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Digitaria Ciliaris Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Polygonum Odoratum Extract, Sodium Lactate, Polyglutamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Panax Ginseng Meristem Cell Culture
Antimicrobial
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientLippia Citriodora Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Propanediol, Panax Ginseng Meristem Cell Culture, Soluble Collagen, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Lippia Citriodora Meristem Cell Culture, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Acetyl Glutamine, Magnesium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Acetyl Glutamine yet.
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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
sh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide found naturally in our bodies. Peptides are the building blocks for collagen and elastin in our skin.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is bioengineered to be identical to a human gene that codes for epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF are signal molecules that simulate cell growth and healing.
Studies find EGF help with:
In South Korea and China, EGF is considered a controversial ingredient. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has cracked down on companies with products including EGF due to false advertisement claims.
According to Dr. Zoe Draelos, growth factors have some drawbacks:
There is also controversy surrounding growth factors. The controversy is due to their mitogenic activity, or their ability to increase the number of cells. It is best to avoid using growth factors if you have psoriasis or are at risk of skin cancer. However, it should be noted EGF are not mutagenic - meaning they will not cause cancer.
Learn more about Sh-Oligopeptide-1This peptide has similar properties to Sh-Oligopeptide-1.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is bioengineered to be identical to a human gene that codes for epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF are signal molecules that simulate cell growth and healing.
There is also controversy surrounding EGF. The controversy is due to their mitogenic activity, or their ability to increase the number of cells. It is best to avoid using growth factors if you have psoriasis or are at risk of skin cancer. However, it should be noted EGF are not mutagenic - meaning they will not cause cancer.
Learn more about Sh-Oligopeptide-2Sh-Polypeptide-1 is a signal peptide that tells our cells to create more fibroblast cells. Fibroblasts maintain skin structure and plays a role in wound healing.
It is important to note this ingredient is mitogenic and not mutagenic. Meaning it will stimulate cell multiplication, and will not cause cancer.
Sh-Polypeptide-11 is a signal protein that tells our skin to create more fibroblast cells. Fibroblasts maintain skin structure and plays a role in wound healing.
It is important to note this ingredient is mitogenic and not mutagenic. Meaning it will stimulate cell multiplication, and will not cause cancer.
Sh-Polypeptide-9 is a signal peptide that tells our body to create more blood vessels.
It is important to note, this ingredient is mitogenic and not mutagenic. Meaning it will stimulate cell multiplication, and will not cause cancer.
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 HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
