What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Betaine, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Zinc PCA, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantRetinal
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
HumectantWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phospholipids, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbic Acid, Retinal, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium PCA, Wheat Amino Acids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyproline, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether yet.
Sodium 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