What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
HumectantBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBerberis Vulgaris Root Extract
AntimicrobialCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Coconut Alkanes, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Niacinamide, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyproline, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 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