What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vinyldimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Vinyldimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Zinc PCA, Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethiconol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Laureth-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, C12-14 Pareth-12, Sodium Hydroxide, Blue 1 Lake
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 synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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
