What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAcetamidoethoxyethanol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingResveratrol
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin ConditioningHeptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin ConditioningDiamond Powder
AbrasiveMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenylpropanol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Menthyl Lactate, Resveratrol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Diamond Powder, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenylpropanol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate
EmollientDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventBetaine
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Lactate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-6
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Betaine, Ceramide NP, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Bakuchiol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Glyceryl Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Polysorbate 20, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Methylpropanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Astaxanthin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Oligopeptide-32, Oligopeptide-29, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ceramide EOP, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-6, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinYou might know this ingredient as Matrixyl. It is a synthetic peptide made up of five amino acids attached to a palmitic acid, a fatty acid that helps it absorb into skin more easily.
As a signal peptide, Matrixyl acts like a little messenger. Once it reaches your skin cells, it tells them to ramp up production of collagen, elastin, and other proteins that keep skin looking firm and smooth.
A 12 week clinical study found that a moisturizer containing just 3 ppm of Matrixyl led to a significant improvement in fine-lines and wrinkles. Another study showed an 18% reduction in wrinkle depth, 37% reduction in wrinkle thickness, and a 21% improvement in skin firmness after just 28 days of twice-daily use.
The coolest part is that it works at incredibly low concentrations (like 0.0003%) and it plays well with other actives.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel found it to be non-sensitizing across multiple tests and human patch tests also showed no irritation or sensitization.
Due to its palmitic acid base, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Fun fact: Matrixyl was originally developed by French company Sederma and Procter & Gamble.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum