What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pullulan
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Laureth-7, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Benzoate, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Erythritol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Nylon-12
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Magnesium Sulfate
Polysilicone-11
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventParfum
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Erythritol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Nylon-12, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Magnesium Sulfate, Polysilicone-11, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Carbonate, Parfum, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Laureth-12, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77007, CI 15850
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
