What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Santalum Album Extract
CleansingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium PCA, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Glycolic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Phospholipids, Santalum Album Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylpropanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cocos Nucifera Water, Polysorbate 20, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Allantoin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Parfum
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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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
