This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This serum is formulated around Zingiber Officinale Root Extract to calm irritation and support scar healing.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-12
Skin ConditioningMethylal
SolventGlucose
Humectant
Ethyl Ether
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-12, Methylal, Glucose, Ethyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Propanediol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Oleyl Erucate
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Flower Water
Skin ConditioningFaex
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleyl Erucate, Camellia Japonica Flower Water, Faex, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Carbomer, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Triheptanoin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. It is a skin conditioning agent and emollient that sits on top of skin to soften and hydrate it.
Over 98% of the oil is made up of long-chain fatty acids, mostly aachidic acid (61%), docosenoic acid (~16%), and docosadienoic acid (~18%).
This combination is not really found in any other plant oil and is the reason this is one of the most stable botanical oils available.
Some studies show it to be more stable than jojoba oil, helps a product resist going rancid, and can help extend the shelf life of a formula.
It also naturally contains vitamin E and phytosterols that give it a mild antioxidant benefit.
This ingredient is typically used from around 1% to fairly high levels since it's gentle; it's well-tolerated and low on the irritation scale.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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
