What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPropanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCoconut Alkanes
EmollientSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingNiacinamide
SmoothingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Betaine
HumectantHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantHaematococcus Pluvialis Oil
AntioxidantCodium Fragile Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCopper Chlorophyll
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Coconut Alkanes, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Betaine, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Oil, Codium Fragile Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Polyglutamic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Copper Chlorophyll
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantCaprylyl Glyceryl Ether
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Panthenol, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerCaprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyglutamic Acid is made up many glutamic acids chained together. It is created from bacterial fermentation.
This ingredient is an effective skin hydrator and may help speed up wound healing. As a humectant, it draws and holds water to the skin. This ingredient is often compared to hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Similarly to hyaluronic acid, it can vary in molecular weights. This means polyglutamic acid is capable of bringing hydration to lower levels of the skin.
Fun fact: Polyglutamic Acid is found in the Japanese food, natto. It is also being used in cancer treatment studies.
Learn more about Polyglutamic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Water. 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