What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Dimethicone
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientPPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientThioctic Acid
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carbomer, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Thioctic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Zea Mays Oil, Beta-Carotene, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Sodium 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