What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantParfum
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingXylitol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingGlucose
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantRaspberry Ketone
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Propanediol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Carbomer, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Parfum, Anhydroxylitol, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Xylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Linalool, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAhnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingP-Anisic Acid
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthoxydiglycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Panthenol, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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