What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantApricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnolol
AntioxidantKaempferol
AntioxidantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Palmate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Magnolol, Kaempferol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Palmate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingPoloxamer 235
EmulsifyingSucrose
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantTocophersolan
AntioxidantPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Niacinamide, Betaine, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Poloxamer 235, Sucrose, Lactic Acid, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocophersolan, Poloxamer 338, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCaprylyl 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed 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 AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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