What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf
Masking
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Horse Fat
Skin Conditioning
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
EmulsifyingCarrageenan
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Dimethyl Sulfone, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Horse Fat, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Carrageenan, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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
