What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin)
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingPropylparaben
Preservative
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin), Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, Behenyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Methylpropanediol
SolventArginine
Masking
Pullulan
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Larix Sibirica Wood Extract
Antimicrobial
Quercus Mongolica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersicaria Hydropiper Extract
Skin ConditioningRheum Palmatum Root/Stalk Extract
AstringentAsarum Sieboldii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Machilus Thunbergii Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Polyglutamic Acid, Pantolactone, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Carbomer, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Methylpropanediol, Arginine, Pullulan, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Melatonin, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Larix Sibirica Wood Extract, Quercus Mongolica Leaf Extract, Persicaria Hydropiper Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root/Stalk Extract, Asarum Sieboldii Root Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Machilus Thunbergii Bark Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidSodium 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
