What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCucurbita Pepo
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium PCA
HumectantSqualane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSantalum Album Extract
CleansingCholecalciferol
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentDipteryx Odorata Seed Extract
MaskingPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristica Fragrans Extract
MaskingPimenta Officinalis Fruit Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Cucurbita Pepo, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Santalum Album Extract, Cholecalciferol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Polyacrylamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Myristica Fragrans Extract, Pimenta Officinalis Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol
Cucurbita Pepo
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHoney
HumectantHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentMyristica Fragrans Powder
MaskingCinnamomum Cassia Bark
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, Honey, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Tocopherol, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glycolic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Myristica Fragrans Powder, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCucurbita Pepo is a species that includes the classic orange pumpkin, zucchini/courgettes, and various edible squashes.
These pumpkins and squashes are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs).
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 EthylhexylglycerinThis ingredient is also known as clove flower extract or syzygium aromaticum. It is an astringent, meaning it draws water out of pores to diminish their appearance temporarily.
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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilSodium 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