What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Dimethiconol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Glucan, Disodium EDTA, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arbutin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Carbomer, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Lactobacillus, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, Centella Asiatica Extract
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 synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
