What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentTrehalose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Aspartate, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Isohexadecane, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Dimethiconol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPolyacrylamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Isoamyl Cocoate
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Allantoin, Betaine, Isoamyl Laurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Isoamyl Cocoate, Laureth-7
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 Water