What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHuman Adipose Stromal Cell Exosomes
Skin ConditioningCholecalciferol
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhytic Acid
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningUlva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningAgastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientWater, Methyl Gluceth-20, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Human Adipose Stromal Cell Exosomes, Cholecalciferol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sclerotium Gum, Phytic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Algae Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Juice, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Hexapeptide-11, Copper Tripeptide-1
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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