What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingSilica
AbrasiveIsopentyldiol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPentapeptide-48
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Silica, Isopentyldiol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Carbomer, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Pentapeptide-48, Tocopherol, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral, Eugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoconut Alkanes
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Mono/Dioleate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylglycerol
Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Mono/Dioleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Beta-Glucan, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Phosphatidylglycerol, Phytosphingosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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