What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dihydroxyisopropyl Capryloylcaprylamide
Skin ProtectingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Serine
Masking
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Hexapeptide-2 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Dihydroxyisopropyl Capryloylcaprylamide, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Sucrose Cocoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Serine, Phytosterols, Alanine, Glycine, Trideceth-6, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Biotinoyl Hexapeptide-2 Amide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Squalane, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, C15-19 Alkane, Silica, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate, Beta-Glucan, Ectoin, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide Ag, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Trehalose, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium 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 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
