What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
Solvent
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Methylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Copper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningApium Graveolens Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Trioleate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Pullulan
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
Masking
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Water, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyglutamate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Sodium PCA, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Plankton Extract, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Glucomannan, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lactate, Parfum, Ethylene Brassylate, Trihydroxystearin, Sorbitan Trioleate, Carbomer, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Pullulan, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Phenylpropanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Panthenol, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPentylene 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
