What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Aminopropanediol
BufferingCeteareth-33
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xylitol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ceteth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
PEG-75 Stearate
Steareth-20
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Polyester-7, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Aminopropanediol, Ceteareth-33, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Oleyl Alcohol, Phytosterols, Anhydroxylitol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xylitol, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ceteth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-75 Stearate, Steareth-20, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Phragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDiglycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Α-Olefin Oligomer
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Erythritol
Humectant
Beheneth-5
EmulsifyingMethicone
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Methacrylic Acid/Sodium Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonate Copolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
C13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutamic Acid, Phragmites Karka Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Diglycerin, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Α-Olefin Oligomer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Erythritol, Beheneth-5, Methicone, Petrolatum, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Batyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Methacrylic Acid/Sodium Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonate Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Sodium Citrate, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Sodium Metaphosphate, Succinoglycan, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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
