What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Lactic Acid, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Jania Rubens Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Polyglutamic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Malva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentVeronica Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMelatonin
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Potassium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycolic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Isomalt, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Pantothenic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Methylcellulose, Melatonin, Caffeine, Biotin, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Potassium Citrate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPGlycerin (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 AcidLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidWater. 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
