What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Vinyldimethicone
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glucose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sucrose
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosterols, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Vinyldimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Glucose, Tromethamine, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dimethiconol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Ceramide NP, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Beta-Glucan, Ectoin, Tocopherol, Sucrose, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Oxygen
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
Emollient
Polyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentStearic Acid
Cleansing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Polypropylene
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Steareth-30
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Perfluorohexane
SolventChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Perfluoromethylcyclopentane
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Oxygen, Ceramide Ng, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cholesterol, Polyglucuronic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Stearic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polypropylene, Polysorbate 80, Steareth-30, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Perfluorohexane, Chlorphenesin, Perfluoromethylcyclopentane, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
