What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningFructose
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialWater, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Argania Spinosa Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Darutoside, Fructose, Maltodextrin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Propanediol, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Caffeine, Bisabolol, Bromelain, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 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
