What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventArginine
Masking
Polystyrene
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Methylparaben
Preservative
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Disodium EDTA, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Arginine, Polystyrene, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C12-14 Pareth-12, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ozokerite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Stearyl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090
Reviews
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
