What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveBetaine
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPotassium Chloride
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSucrose
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingCrataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningC11-13 Isoparaffin
SolventMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentMentha Viridis Leaf Extract
MaskingRibes Nigrum Bud Extract
PerfumingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
HumectantRose Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Suavissimus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Betaine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Collagen, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cellulose Gum, Sucrose, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trideceth-6, Crataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract, C11-13 Isoparaffin, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Leaf Extract, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Glucoside, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Hexapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Glucose, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Pantolactone, Rose Extract, Rubus Suavissimus Leaf Extract, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen Extract
Skin ProtectingTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Acetate
BufferingCellulose
AbsorbentGlycine
BufferingAnemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSoluble Collagen
HumectantAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Atelocollagen
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acetate, Cellulose, Glycine, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Soluble Collagen, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Atelocollagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolChondrus Crispus Extract comes from a red algae native to the northern Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. It helps hydrate the skin and is rich in antioxidants.
The antioxidants in chondrus crispus include lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein has the ability to filter blue light from screens.
Other contents of chondrus crispus include polysaccharides, peptides, and amino acids. These help hydrate the skin.
What's the difference between algae and seaweed?
Algae is a broad term that includes seaweed. Not all algae is seaweed.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidThis form of hyaluronic acid is produced through fermentation.
According to a manufacturer, it has a positive charge by ionic binding to help moisturize and give hair a smooth feel. This is why you'll find this ingredient in shampoos and body washes.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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