What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Menadione
MaskingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningDiamond Powder
Abrasive
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTrehalose
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Phenylalanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Astaxanthin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Resveratrol, 4-Butylresorcinol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Menadione, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Linolenic Acid, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Ferulic Acid, Xanthophylls, Diamond Powder, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Trehalose, Proline, Phenylalanine, Glycine, Lysine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Lecithin, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Tromethamine, Dextrin, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Fulvic Acid
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tamarindus Indica Seed Extract
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Morus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Fulvic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Glutathione, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Extract, Glycerin, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Citric Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 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.
Chondrus 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.
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 GlycerinThis extract comes from a tiny freshwater green microalga that can be found all over the world. It's special because it can produce massive amounts of Astaxanthin, a bright reddish-orange carotenoid pigment that is considered one of nature's most powerful antioxidants.
The algae starts pumping out Astaxanthin as a defense mechanism whenever it gets stressed out by things like intense sunlight or lack of nutrients.
This extract comes as a red-tinted, oily liquid and is packed with carotenoids, proteins, lipids, and minerals.
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause oxidative damage to your skin. It is also lipophilic, meaning it loves fats. This lets it concentrate in the outer layers of your skin where UV damage tends to hit first.
Research suggests it outperforms other well-known antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Beta-Carotene in terms of scavenging ability. It can also help inhibit matrix metalloproteinases (the enzymes that break down collagen) and can stimulate growth factor secretion to support collagen production in dermal fibroblasts.
Clinical studies have shown that combining oral supplementation (6 mg/day) with topical application of astaxanthin from H. pluvialis led to improvements in wrinkles, age spots, elasticity, skin texture, and moisture content.
This ingredient is generally considered safe and well-tolerated in both topical and oral applications. In cosmetics, you'll see typical concentrations range from 0.1-2%. Allergic reactions are rare and be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
It's worth noting that about 95% of Astaxanthin on the market is made synthetically from petrochemicals.
Learn more about Haematococcus Pluvialis ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
