What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Barley Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRhizobian Gum
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Betaine, Polysorbate 60, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Barley Protein, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Caramel, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Limonene, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Maltodextrin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Euterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Isoamyl Cocoate
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isoamyl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Ceramide NP, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ethyl Linoleate, Tocopherol, Isoamyl Cocoate, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Gluconate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 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 HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
