What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vitis Vinifera, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSqualane
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientIlex Guayusa Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingPullulan
Mannitol
HumectantHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeErgothioneine
AntioxidantWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Squalane, Triethyl Citrate, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Benzoate, Lauroyl Lysine, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Pullulan, Mannitol, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Calcium Gluconate, Silica, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ergothioneine
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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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