What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Azelaic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Alpha-Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Caffeine, Panthenol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Sodium Phytate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol
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 GlycolHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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
