What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Heptapeptide-27
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Oligopeptide-78
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Octapeptide-24
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAnhydroxylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTeprenone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyvinyl Alcohol
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Niacinamide, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-27, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Octapeptide-24, Phenoxyethanol, Anhydroxylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xylitol, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Teprenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Tocopherol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberSilica
AbrasiveTapioca Starch
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Silica, Tapioca Starch, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine Hcl, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 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.
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 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