This hydrating serum is formulated around Squalane and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This brightening serum is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Undecane
EmollientVegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Tridecane
Perfuming
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Spirodela Polyrhiza Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantPullulan
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBisabolol
Antioxidant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Parfum
Masking
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Isopentyldiol, Myristyl Nicotinate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Glycerin, Undecane, Vegetable Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Ceramide AP, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide Ag, Tridecane, Ceramide Ng, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Spirodela Polyrhiza Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triheptanoin, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Pullulan, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Bisabolol, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Parfum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cholesterol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
