What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Agar
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingYogurt Extract
Skin ConditioningCarrageenan
Betaine
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Agar, Glycerin, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Yogurt Extract, Carrageenan, Betaine, Glucose, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Santalum Album Extract
CleansingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium PCA, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Glycolic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Phospholipids, Santalum Album Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylpropanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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
