This hydrating essence is formulated around Niacinamide and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This hydrating toner is formulated around Polyglutamic Acid and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to hydrate skin and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sea Water
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
AntioxidantCarica Papaya Fruit
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
AntioxidantChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAcer Rubrum Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarica Papaya Leaf Extract
TonicCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlutamic Acid
HumectantWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningOat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sea Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Betaine, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Carica Papaya Fruit, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Malachite Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Acer Rubrum Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carica Papaya Leaf Extract, Copper Gluconate, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Wheat Amino Acids, Oat Amino Acids, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA
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.
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 preservatives
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, 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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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