What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Serine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Tangerina Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Medica Peel Oil
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Corn Starch Modified, Cetyl Alcohol, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Niacinamide, Beta-Glucan, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pectin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Fructose, Sodium PCA, Maltose, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin, Proline, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Bisabolol, Serine, Arginine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Pyrus Malus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Gardenia Taitensis Flower
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Abies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Santalum Album Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Urea
Buffering
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Isohexadecane, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Sodium Chloride, Isostearic Acid, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Pyrus Malus Seed Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Yeast Extract, Glucosamine Hcl, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Madecassoside, Urea, Hexyldecanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 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 GlycerinIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecanePhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
