What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Algin
Masking
Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Powder
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingConchiolin Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantGlucose
Humectant
CI 77231
Cosmetic ColorantTetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingMagnesium Oxide
AbsorbentWater, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Algin, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Xanthan Gum, Conchiolin Powder, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 42090, Glucose, CI 77231, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Magnesium Oxide
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Olivine Extract
Skin ConditioningColloidal Gold
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77480
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic Colorant
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium 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
