What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate
AbsorbentSodium Benzoate
MaskingApigenin
AntioxidantBenzoic Acid
MaskingMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Sodium Sulfate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveWater, Pentylene Glycol, Pvp, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arginine, Caffeine, Pantolactone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Sodium Benzoate, Apigenin, Benzoic Acid, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantGlycine
BufferingSodium Nitrate
SoothingZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialGlyoxal
AntimicrobialTromethamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Glycine, Sodium Nitrate, Zinc Chloride, Glyoxal, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePhenoxyethanol 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 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