What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantSerine
MaskingTaurine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Betaine, Serine, Taurine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
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 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 Water