What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingHydrolyzed Brazil Nut Protein
Skin ConditioningCopper Picolinate
SoothingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Carnosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Hydrolyzed Brazil Nut Protein, Copper Picolinate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSilica
Abrasive
Silanetriol
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Sodium Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pisum Sativum Extract, Adenosine, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Silica, Silanetriol, Dipropylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidThis ingredient is used in skincare as a delivery system.
It works by "encapsulating" active ingredients with its unique ring shape that is water-loving on the outside and oil-loving on the inside. This improves the stability and absorption of the product into the skin.
According to a manufacturer, it also offer some moisturizing effects.
Learn more about Hydroxypropyl CyclodextrinThis synthetic, signal peptide has unique skin conditioning properties in that is a matrikine-mimetic compound.
First of all, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 is a signal peptide; signal peptides tell the body to create more collagen.
What is a matrikine-mimetic compound?
This peptide has the ability to mimic matrikines in skin. Our skin created matrikines by breaking down matrix proteins into peptides.
Matrikines play a role in:
Though further research is needed, this ingredient seems pretty promising. In one study, women over the age of 40 with visible photoaging used a vitamin C serum with this ingredient for 56 days (15% ascorbid acid, 5 ppm palmitoyl tripeptide‐38). The results found improvement in skin roughness and skin tone.
This peptide is also part of the famous Matrixyl synthe’6, a blend of ingredients that also includes glycerin, water, and hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38Phenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
