What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventTrehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Andrographis Paniculata Extract
AstringentAnemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arctium Lappa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Prenylflavonoids
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Collagen
Moisturising
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Euglena Gracilis Polysaccharide
Gel FormingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Trehalose, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Andrographis Paniculata Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Prenylflavonoids, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Oil, Propolis Extract, Niacinamide, Retinol, Collagen, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Euglena Gracilis Polysaccharide, Hydrolyzed Collagen
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineGlycerin (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 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
