What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEDTA
Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Ceramide AP, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cellulose Gum, Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Allantoin, EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingWater, Polyquaternium-7, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, DMDM Hydantoin, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Polyquaternium-10, Cocamide Mea, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Collagen
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Centella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
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.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidWater. 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