What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBrassica Glycerides
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPhytonadione Epoxide
AstringentPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningZerumbone
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingChrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRetinal
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Caffeine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Brassica Glycerides, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Maltodextrin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Phytonadione Epoxide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Zerumbone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide-2, Steareth-20, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Xanthan Gum, Retinal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Methyl Lactate
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Leaf, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Copper Tripeptide-1, Collagen, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Disodium EDTA, Methyl Lactate
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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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