What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Glycine, Alanine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Betaine, Allantoin, Fructose, Maltose, Trehalose, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Silanetriol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silanediol Salicylate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Tromethamine
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isoceteth-10
EmulsifyingOrnithine
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Adipate
EmollientGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Methylsilanol Hydroxyproline Aspartate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDecapeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-78
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Decapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Methylpropanediol, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Silanediol Salicylate, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-40 Stearate, Silica, Tromethamine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isoceteth-10, Ornithine, Betaine, Diethylhexyl Adipate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, C10-18 Triglycerides, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Methylsilanol Hydroxyproline Aspartate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycolipids, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil, Levulinic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Glyceryl Caprylate, Decapeptide-22, Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Decapeptide-21, Phenylpropanol, Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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
