What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Diethanolamine
BufferingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glutathione
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingWater, Methylpropanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Kojic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Diethanolamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Glutathione, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Silybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Menthol
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Bromelain
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetrimonium Chloride, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Astaxanthin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Menthol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Bromelain, Papain, 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.
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.
Polysorbate 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
