What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Alcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSilica
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Hexyl Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Amodimethicone, Carbomer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Benzyl Alcohol, Glucose, Sodium Hydroxide, Silica, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Alcaligenes Polysaccharides yet.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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
