What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCyclodextrin
AbsorbentSqualane
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientRetinal
Skin ConditioningRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningAlumina
AbrasiveIsostearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipteryx Odorata Bean Extract
MaskingCoumarin
PerfumingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyclodextrin, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Retinal, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Alumina, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyaspartate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract, Coumarin, CI 14700, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid 14%
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxypinacolone Retinoate 1%
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantUbiquinone
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCodonopsis Lanceolata Extract
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycolic Acid 14%, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Methyl Gluceth-20, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Phenoxyethanol, Ferulic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate 1%, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ubiquinone, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 Water