What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-Glyceryl Ascorbate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf
PerfumingPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCallicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantCrataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Juice
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentArtemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, 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
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSqualane
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientIlex Guayusa Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingPullulan
Mannitol
HumectantHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSilica
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeErgothioneine
AntioxidantWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Squalane, Triethyl Citrate, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Benzoate, Lauroyl Lysine, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Pullulan, Mannitol, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Calcium Gluconate, Silica, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ergothioneine
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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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