What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Trisiloxane
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAzelaic Acid
BufferingBisabolol
AntioxidantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCitrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
PerfumingCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Trisiloxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Azelaic Acid, Bisabolol, Calcium Gluconate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Gluconolactone, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Reviews
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 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 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