What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingTropolone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDecylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Tropolone, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Decylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Arginine, Soluble Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Butyroyl Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Nonapeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Chloride
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Butyroyl Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Betaine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Yeast Extract, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Lecithin, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglucuronic Acid
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 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 HyaluronatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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
