What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
AstringentHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingMannose
HumectantP-Anisic Acid
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSorbic Acid
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Limonene, Mannose, P-Anisic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Betaine, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Methyl Gluceth-20, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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