What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingSodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Sorbitol, Cetyl Palmitate, Vinyldimethicone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C12-16 Alcohols, Tromethamine, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningGymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract
AstringentOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lactitol
HumectantXylitol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Lactitol, Xylitol, Lactic Acid, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Chloride, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Glycerin (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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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
