What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantTriethyl Citrate
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingCholesterol
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Lactate, Cholesterol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingDistarch Phosphate
Absorbent4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlobularia Alypum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantJojoba Esters
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantXylitol
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Distarch Phosphate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Panthenol, Pantolactone, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Polyisobutene, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopherol, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside
Reviews
Ingredients 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
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 Water