What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientKaempferia Galanga Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeWater, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mipa, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Glycol Distearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Panthenol, Glycerin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingSh-Polypeptide-77
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantClitoria Ternatea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Sh-Polypeptide-77, Sh-Polypeptide-2, Superoxide Dismutase, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Ascorbic Acid, CI 75810, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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 GlycerinSodium 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