What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyisobutene
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCetearyl Dimethicone
EmollientMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMelanin
Skin ProtectingErythritol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPEG-8/Smdi Copolymer
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBarosma Betulina Leaf Oil
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingHomarine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Succinate
BufferingMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
AntioxidantMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
AntioxidantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Polyacrylate-13, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Lecithin, Isostearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Cetearyl Dimethicone, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polysorbate 20, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melanin, Erythritol, Citric Acid, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Tocopherol, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Barosma Betulina Leaf Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Homarine Hcl, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Succinate, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Plankton Extract, Ergothioneine
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterNiacinamide
SmoothingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV AbsorberGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBetula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEruca Sativa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Eruca Sativa Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Inositol, Hyaluronic Acid
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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum