What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingSerine
MaskingAlgin
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Lecithin
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthyl Linalool
MaskingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellyl Acetate
MaskingPentadecalactone
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIonone
AstringentTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Algin, Pentylene Glycol, Pullulan, Lecithin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Ethyl Linalool, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Amyl Salicylate, Citronellyl Acetate, Pentadecalactone, Dipropylene Glycol, Ionone, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientHeptyl Glucoside
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Glycerin, Biotin, Panthenol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Charcoal Powder, Mentha Piperita Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Menthyl Lactate, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Heptyl Glucoside, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
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 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 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