What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantMyristic Acid
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Aroma
Benzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Palmitic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethanolamine, Propylene Glycol, Myristic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Aroma, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSteareth-21
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPhytic Acid
Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coco-Glucoside, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Steareth-21, Xanthan Gum, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chloride, Phytic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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