What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPEG-8
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbic Acid
PreservativeAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Glycerin, Propanediol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Eriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Ceramide EOP, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentRetinol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol 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 HyaluronateSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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