What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Propanediol, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Zea Mays Oil, Thioctic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventPEG-32
HumectantTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Methyl Gluceth-10
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventPEG-75
HumectantMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningDisodium Succinate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningViscum Album Leaf Extract
SoothingSuccinic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Lactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentSilica
Abrasive
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Pentylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, PEG-32, Triethyl Citrate, Methyl Gluceth-10, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, PEG-75, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Disodium Succinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Potassium Hydroxide, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Viscum Album Leaf Extract, Succinic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Copper Tripeptide-1, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Lactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Silica
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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed collagen has a misleading name because it is actually a mixture of various proteins/peptides. This ingredient has skin hydrating properties.
Collagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. In your skin, it is responsible for keeping it firm and youthful.
Hydrolyzed Collagen is created by breaking up proteins into smaller peptide bonds. These peptides act as humectants and emollients.
Humectants are great at holding onto water, keeping skin hydrated. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
There is ongoing debate about whether hydrolyzed collagen works because it increases skin hydration. Skin hydration is also linked to elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles.
Collagen or peptide ingredients can be used in the morning or night. They will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is a great hair conditioner as well.
This ingredient can be extracted from different sources, including:
Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources. Vegan collagen would go by a different INCI name, such as hydrolyzed soy protein.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenPentylene 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 GlycolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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
