What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
PEG-8 Glyceryl Isostearate
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Vibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate
Abrasive
Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Flower Cell Extract
MaskingAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Algin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBisabolol
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-2-Buteth-1
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Lecithin
Emollient
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Water, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trehalose, PEG-8 Glyceryl Isostearate, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Vibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera Flower Cell Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Whey Protein, Plankton Extract, Urea, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Bisabolol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-2-Buteth-1, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, Lecithin, Menthyl Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyester-5
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyester-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Sodium Lactate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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
