What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Beheneth-5
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Pullulan
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingEDTA
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Beheneth-5, Dimethicone, Pullulan, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, EDTA, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Triethanolamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Betaine, Panthenol, Squalene, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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 HyaluronateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about Triethanolamine
