What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantUrea
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventRaspberry Ketone
MaskingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Urea, Methylpropanediol, Isocetyl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Cetyl Alcohol, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Benzyl Glycol, Raspberry Ketone, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Parfum, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPolyester-7
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientAminopropanediol
BufferingCeteareth-33
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientOleyl Alcohol
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXylitol
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ceteth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
PEG-75 Stearate
Steareth-20
CleansingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Polyester-7, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Aminopropanediol, Ceteareth-33, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Oleyl Alcohol, Phytosterols, Anhydroxylitol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xylitol, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ceteth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-75 Stearate, Steareth-20, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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 AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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