What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Olivate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenincasa Cerifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Hexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclomethicone, Isopropyl Myristate, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethiconol, Sodium Benzoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Pvp, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benincasa Cerifera Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Disodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantMaris Aqua
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingN-Vinyl Pyrrolidone
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveAphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Glycerin, Maris Aqua, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Silica, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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