What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingDiisostearyl Malate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Methylpropanediol
SolventPolyether-1
Squalane
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingDimethiconol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingVinyldimethicone
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Diisostearyl Malate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Methylpropanediol, Polyether-1, Squalane, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Adenosine, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Allantoin, Ectoin, Caffeine, Panthenol, Sorbitan Laurate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Dna, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Parfum, Vinyldimethicone, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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