What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Inulin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Algin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Trehalose, Urea, Xylitol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 80, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Sorbitan Oleate, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Phosphate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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
