What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-121
Skin Conditioning
Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Water, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sucrose Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phosphatidylcholine, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Sh-Polypeptide-50, Sh-Polypeptide-121, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Undecane
EmollientArginine
Masking
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCeteareth-20
CleansingTridecane
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Pullulan
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Pentapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pantolactone
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Butylene Glycol, Undecane, Arginine, Inulin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ceteareth-20, Tridecane, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Pullulan, Tetrapeptide-21, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Oligopeptide-1, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Sucrose Palmitate, Cetyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Carnosine, Sodium Metabisulfite, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenylpropanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.
That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.
Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.
Human clinical data is promising, but modest:
A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.
A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.
You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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
