What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sea Silt Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Olivine Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Nitrate
SoothingWater, Propanediol, Sea Silt Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Olivine Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Betaine, Glycerin, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Nitrate
Hyaluronic Acid 20%
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Menthol
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hyaluronic Acid 20%, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menthol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Menthoxypropanediol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090, 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.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
