What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Ceramide AP, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isononyl Isononanoate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Oxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlobularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
SolventPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Ferulic Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol
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 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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum