What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCallicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Crataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantifolia Juice
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Crataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice, Citrus Limon Juice, Citrus Aurantifolia Juice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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
