What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 77947
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Mica, Pvp, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, CI 77491, CI 77163, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, CI 77947, Octyldodecanol, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77499, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Erythrulose
TanningGlycerin
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Benzoyl Dipeptide-18 D-Phenylalanyl Arginyl D-Tryptophan Dipropylamide Mesylate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Lactate
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 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
