What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Salicylic Acid, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Lactate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-8
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientTuber Aestivum Extract
Skin ProtectingTuber Melanosporum Extract
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., PEG-8, Dipropylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Propylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Tuber Aestivum Extract, Tuber Melanosporum Extract, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Octyldodecanol, Squalane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Biotin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Benzyl Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, CI 14700, CI 19140, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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
