What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventTrehalose
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Betaine
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingFevillea Trilobata Seed Oil
AstringentHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Sesquiisostearate
EmulsifyingConobea Scoparioides Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Sulfate
Citronellol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Trehalose, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Fevillea Trilobata Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Sorbitol, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquiisostearate, Conobea Scoparioides Leaf Oil, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-7 Triacetate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPoria Cocos Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Panthenol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Poria Cocos Polysaccharide, Chondrus Crispus Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Xanthan Gum, Gluconolactone, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid
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 GlycerinThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateSodium 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