What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantVolcanic Soil
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Sprout
HumectantSilk Amino Acids
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Expressed
PerfumingLeontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmylopectin
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Volcanic Soil, Aloe Barbadensis Sprout, Silk Amino Acids, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Expressed, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Amylopectin, Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Levulinate, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Seed Extract
AstringentHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAmorphophallus Konjac Root Powder
AbrasiveAloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingTocotrienols
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialMatricaria Maritima Powder
AbrasiveSodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Tocotrienols, Ferulic Acid, Matricaria Maritima Powder, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 AcidSodium levulinate is the a sodium salt of Levulinic Acid. Oncedissolved in an aqueous solution, the two ingredients become identical. It is usually derived from renewable plant sources like corn starch or sugarcane.
In skincare, it mostly acts as a skin conditioning agent that keeps skin soft and hydrated. It also acts as a preservative booster by inhibiting the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria.
It's often paired with Sodium Anisate as the two create a broad-spectrum preservative system that is popular in "natural" formulations.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be non-irritated and there are no restrictions for use in EU cosmetics. The FDA also allows this ingredient to be used as a food-grade flavoring agent.
Learn more about Sodium LevulinateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum