What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglycerin-3, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C14-22 Alcohols, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-51, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Beta-Glucan, Resveratrol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Squalene
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Myristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Methylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Coconut Alkanes, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Myristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Parfum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Alcohol, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA
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 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
