What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-32
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Trideceth-12, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Beeswax, Dimethicone, PEG-32, PEG-6, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Talc
Abrasive
Cera Alba
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Manganese Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingIngredients 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydeceneSodium 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
