What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Squalane, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, C15-19 Alkane, Silica, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate, Beta-Glucan, Ectoin, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide Ag, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Trehalose, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCorn Starch Modified
AbsorbentIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Corn Starch Modified, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Cichorium Intybus Root 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
