What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSwertia Chirata Leaf Extract
AstringentRetinol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAllyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Behenate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Swertia Chirata Leaf Extract, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isododecane, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Laureth-7, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSteareth-20
CleansingN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Caffeine, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Steareth-20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
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 GlycerinSodium 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