What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSea Silt Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingXylitylglucoside
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingPolysilicone-11
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingXylitol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantFructose
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Maltose
MaskingGlucose
HumectantPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingMalic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sea Silt Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Pentylene Glycol, Urea, Polysilicone-11, Hexylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Anhydroxylitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Xylitol, Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Fructose, Sodium Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Maltose, Glucose, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Malic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, C10-18 Triglycerides, C14-22 Alcohols, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Dimethicone, Cetyl Palmitate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 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