What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Cellulose
Absorbent
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTromethamine
BufferingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diospyros Mespiliformis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sanicula Europaea Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Extract
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantPolyvinyl Alcohol
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Homosalate, Glycerin, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Parfum, Cellulose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77891, Tromethamine, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethiconol, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Diospyros Mespiliformis Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Sanicula Europaea Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Extract, Citric Acid, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Maris Sal, CI 14700, CI 17200, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
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 GlycerinSodium 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
