What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
BHT
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, BHT, Retinol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Prunus Persica Kernel Extract
MoisturisingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Prunus Persica Kernel Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Caffeine, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Zinc Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 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
