What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingDextran
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Fulvic Acid
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Astaxanthin, Bisabolol, Glutathione, Ergothioneine, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ceteareth-20, Dextran, Ferulic Acid, Fulvic Acid, Plankton Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Lecithin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantGlutathione
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Vp/Va Copolymer
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Gold, Glutathione, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Vp/Va Copolymer, Mica
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in our bodies. It is made up of three amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
As an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell.
While glutathione is said to help with fading dark spots, the results from research are inconclusive. Further studies are needed. With that said, gluthatione has been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
This ingredient is naturally occurring in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.
Learn more about GlutathioneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
