What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMagnesium Sulfate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Methylpropanediol
SolventSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oxidized Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Sulfate
Silanetriol
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantGlucose
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Beeswax, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Homosalate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Cyclopentasiloxane, Bisabolol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Tocopherol, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Phenethyl Alcohol, Magnesium Sulfate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Methylpropanediol, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oxidized Corn Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, CI 19140, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, T-Butyl Alcohol, CI 14700, Maltodextrin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Sulfate, Silanetriol, BHT, CI 17200, Glucose, Salicylic Acid, CI 42090, Sodium Hydroxide, Chondrus Crispus Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glutathione
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Menaquinone-7
AntiseborrhoeicCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Glutathione, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Menaquinone-7, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Allantoin, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Betaine, Caffeine, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Squalane, Zinc PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Lactate, Propanediol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
