What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Caffeine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Lecithin, Retinol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tocopherol, BHT, BHA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 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
