What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
PPG-13
Skin ConditioningDecyltetradeceth-20
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Alcohol, Pvp, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Saccharomyces Ferment, PPG-13, Decyltetradeceth-20, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingDiglycerin
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vp/Va Copolymer
Sorbitol
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sea Water
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pvp, Diglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vp/Va Copolymer, Sorbitol, Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sea Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Carbonate
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
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpWater. 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
