What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAgar
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingYogurt Extract
Skin ConditioningCarrageenan
Betaine
HumectantGlucose
HumectantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, 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 ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicylic Acid, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Yeast Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Biotin, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 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