What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyacrylate-13
Tromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyisobutene
Mannitol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBetula Alba Juice
AstringentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningSantalum Album Oil
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingStyrax Benzoin Gum
MaskingRose Flower Oil
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRumex Crispus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Atelocollagen
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Trehalose, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate-13, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Zea Mays Starch, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyisobutene, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Adenosine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polysorbate 20, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Soluble Collagen, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Betula Alba Juice, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Santalum Album Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Styrax Benzoin Gum, Rose Flower Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Rumex Crispus Root Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Atelocollagen, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed 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 CollagenTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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