What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Alpha-Arbutin, Ethoxydiglycol, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, 4-Butylresorcinol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningArbutin
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentEthoxydiglycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Arbutin, Propanediol, Tartaric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Maltodextrin, Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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
