What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ferulic Acid, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Gluconate, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Ceramide AP, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBetaine
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium EDTA
EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Mandelic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hydroxide, Betaine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 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 Water