This calming serum is formulated around Ceramide AP and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Zinc PCA and Sodium PCA to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingMalic Acid
Buffering
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Panthenol, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Tromethamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Malic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Pullulan
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantChlamydomonas Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zinc PCA, Sodium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Silica, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Chlamydomonas Extract
Reviews
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 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 AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
