What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantZea Mays Kernel Extract
Fructan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Niacinamide, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Propanediol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Fructan, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Sodium Dna, Hydrolyzed Collagen
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, 2,3-Butanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHyaluronic 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 AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidSodium 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