What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Algin
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Hedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSwiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract
HumectantSerine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycogen
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Collagen, Tranexamic Acid, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Trehalose, Urea, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Serine, Pentylene Glycol, Glycogen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Algin is brown algae. Algae is an informal term for a group of aquatic organisms that can photosynthesize. It is estimated there are at least 30,000 types of Algae.
Algae contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 Water
