What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentMagnesium PCA
HumectantCitrus Limon Fruit Water
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingManganese PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Limonene
PerfumingPinene
MaskingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium PCA, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Magnesium PCA, Citrus Limon Fruit Water, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc PCA, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Citric Acid, Manganese PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Limonene, Pinene, CI 14700, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC9-12 Alkane
SolventAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasivePyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantGlutathione
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingMannitol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlucose
HumectantVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
AntioxidantTriacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Silica, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Urea, Mannitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trehalose, Ascorbic Acid, Glucose, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Ergothioneine, Triacetin, Sodium Hyaluronate, 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.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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