What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone
Niacinamide
SmoothingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantIsohexadecane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Superoxide Dismutase, Isohexadecane, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Carbomer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitylglucoside
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Anhydroxylitol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Xylitol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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