What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Cocoate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMica
Cosmetic ColorantDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-69
Skin Protecting
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Decyl Cocoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Mica, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Gluconate, C9-12 Alkane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mannitol, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine Soja Protein, Cyanocobalamin, Sh-Polypeptide-69, Sodium Benzoate, Tin Oxide, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Superoxide Dismutase, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
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
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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
