What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
C11-13 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carrageenan
Erythritol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil Extract, Propanediol, Zea Mays Starch, Xanthan Gum, Trideceth-6, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium PCA, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Gluconolactone, EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, C11-13 Isoparaffin, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Carrageenan, Erythritol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Alpha-Arbutin, Panthenol, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, EDTA, Polysorbate 20
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
EDTA is the shortened name for ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. It is a chelating agent and used to stabilize products.
Chelating Agents are used to prevent trace metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This can prevent unwanted reactions or changed efficacy of products.
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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
