What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Oleth-2
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Hexapeptide-8 Sp
Amyl Acetate
MaskingDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cholesterol, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 80, Oleth-2, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentapeptide-4, Sh-Hexapeptide-8 Sp, Amyl Acetate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Glycerin, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Polysilicone-11
C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xylitol
Humectant
Steareth-21
CleansingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Acetyl Hexapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Arginine
Masking
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Tropolone, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Decylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Soluble Collagen, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Phenylpropanol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Sorbic Acid, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polysilicone-11, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xylitol, Steareth-21, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Boron Nitride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Allantoin, Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Silica, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Citral, Arginine, Diazolidinyl Urea, Alcohol, BHT
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium 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 Acetate
