What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCarrageenan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root/Camellia Sinensis Leaf/Artemisia Princeps Leaf/Houttuynia Cordata Leaf/Citrus Junos Fruit Extract Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Maris Aqua
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Carrageenan, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Lactobacillus/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root/Camellia Sinensis Leaf/Artemisia Princeps Leaf/Houttuynia Cordata Leaf/Citrus Junos Fruit Extract Ferment Filtrate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Maris Aqua, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Plankton Extract, Disodium EDTA, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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.
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 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
