What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPropanediol
SolventDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Phytate
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Methyl Trimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Propanediol, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Beta-Glucan, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Sucrose, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Polyglutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Dna, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Heptapeptide-27
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Oligopeptide-78
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Octapeptide-24
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAnhydroxylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTeprenone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyvinyl Alcohol
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Niacinamide, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-27, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Octapeptide-24, Phenoxyethanol, Anhydroxylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xylitol, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Teprenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Tocopherol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 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