What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSqualane
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingBetaine
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
MaskingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, C15-19 Alkane, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Carbomer, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Hydroxide, Betaine, BHT, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 80, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Phenylpropanol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysilicone-11
Silica
AbrasiveBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
EmollientCystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Thiosulfate
Carnosine
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Silica, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract, 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Thiosulfate, Carnosine, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 17200, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum