This hydrating serum is formulated around Zinc PCA and Sodium PCA to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Pullulan
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantChlamydomonas Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zinc PCA, Sodium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Silica, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Chlamydomonas Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed DNA
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, 2,3-Butanediol, Squalane, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Myristyl Glucoside, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed DNA, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Soluble Collagen, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Nonapeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Tripeptide-1, Glycine Soja Peptide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
