What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventUndecane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantBetaine
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTridecane
PerfumingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
Dimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, C10-18 Triglycerides, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Undecane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sea Water, Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Tridecane, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Polyquaternium-51, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol 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