What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Olivine Extract
Skin ConditioningColloidal Gold
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77480
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether
SolventMethyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPerfluorohexane
SolventPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingPerfluoroperhydrophenanthrene
Skin ConditioningPerfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPerfluorodimethylcyclohexane
SolventMica
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cetyl Alcohol, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ceramide NP, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Xanthan Gum, Perfluorohexane, Potassium Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Glycolate, Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene, Perfluorodecalin, Sodium Hydroxide, Perfluorodimethylcyclohexane, Mica, Propylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, 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 GlycerinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
