What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Panthenol, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Potassium Cocoate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingXylitol
HumectantAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Xylitol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Isohexadecane, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
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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 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