What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCellulose
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHexanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Isononyl Isononanoate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zinc Gluconate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cellulose, Disodium EDTA, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide NP, Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingTranexamic Acid
AstringentZinc PCA
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentBetaine
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Tranexamic Acid, Zinc PCA, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Betaine, Tromethamine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol
Reviews
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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium 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