What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Apium Graveolens Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Trioleate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Propanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Sodium Hyaluronate, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Sorbitan Trioleate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglucuronic Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-22, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyglutamic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientFullerenes
AntimicrobialHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Colloidal Gold
AntimicrobialGlutathione
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingLactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles
Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Matrixyl 3000
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningSilk Amino Acids
HumectantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Propanediol
Solvent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Fullerenes, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Colloidal Gold, Glutathione, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Dna, Trehalose, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Matrixyl 3000, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Silk Amino Acids, Acacia Senegal Gum, Phospholipids, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitol, Carbomer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is used in skincare as a delivery system.
It works by "encapsulating" active ingredients with its unique ring shape that is water-loving on the outside and oil-loving on the inside. This improves the stability and absorption of the product into the skin.
According to a manufacturer, it also offer some moisturizing effects.
Learn more about Hydroxypropyl CyclodextrinThis synthetic, signal peptide has unique skin conditioning properties in that is a matrikine-mimetic compound.
First of all, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 is a signal peptide; signal peptides tell the body to create more collagen.
What is a matrikine-mimetic compound?
This peptide has the ability to mimic matrikines in skin. Our skin created matrikines by breaking down matrix proteins into peptides.
Matrikines play a role in:
Though further research is needed, this ingredient seems pretty promising. In one study, women over the age of 40 with visible photoaging used a vitamin C serum with this ingredient for 56 days (15% ascorbid acid, 5 ppm palmitoyl tripeptide‐38). The results found improvement in skin roughness and skin tone.
This peptide is also part of the famous Matrixyl synthe’6, a blend of ingredients that also includes glycerin, water, and hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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
