What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ceteareth-20
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Squalane, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Trehalose, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Sucrose Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Linoleate, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Disodium Phosphate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Phosphate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Bisabolol, Tranexamic Acid, Ceteareth-20, Lecithin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-6, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Acetamidoethoxyethanol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Methylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenylpropanol
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Menthyl Lactate, Resveratrol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Diamond Powder, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenylpropanol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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 GlycolGlycerin (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
