What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose
Absorbent
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Inulin, Raspberry Ketone, Sodium Citrate, Polyglucuronic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSqualane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Vegetable Oil, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Olivate, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, C12-16 Alcohols, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Cellulose Gum, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cholesterol, Fructooligosaccharides, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Carnosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Guaiazulene, Arginine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-1
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cellulose Gum is a water-soluble polymer that comes from cellulose. It is used to change the texture of a product and to help stabilize emulsions.
As an emulsifier, cellulose gum specifically thicken the texture of water-based products.
This ingredient is considered hypoallergenic and non-toxic. Cellulose Gum can be found in cosmetics, food, and other household goods such as paper products.
Learn more about Cellulose GumEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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
