What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sinensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
AstringentAlgae Extract
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientSucrose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSteareth-21
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 50420
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Hibiscus Sinensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Whey Protein, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Algae Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Caffeine, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Trehalose, Sorbitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sucrose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Isoceteth-20, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cholesterol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Polyaspartate, Myristyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Hexylene Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Steareth-21, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Parfum, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 50420
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingResveratrol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningGenistein
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Resveratrol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phospholipids, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Carnosine, Genistein, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.
The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 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