What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin)
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientOctadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin), Pentylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Stearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycol
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingArginine
MaskingGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAgar
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Squalane, Triethylhexanoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, Triethyl Citrate, Arginine, Glucosyl Ceramide, Alpha-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Agar, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Decylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAHydrolyzed 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 AcidPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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