What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Cetearyl Olivate
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Polyisobutene
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethyl Mea
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSpermidine
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningSodium Glucuronate
HumectantMagnesium Sulfate
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Squalane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Cetearyl Olivate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethyl Mea, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Gluconate, Spermidine, Silica, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Glycerin, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Sodium Glucuronate, Magnesium Sulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin 14.5%
Humectant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract
MaskingVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin 14.5%, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Polyglutamic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium PCA, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Arginine, Methionine, Cysteine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glucose, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 AcidSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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
