What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
CI 77947
Methylpropanediol
SolventCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientPolypropylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Methicone Copolymer
Quaternium-18 Hectorite
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Macadamia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Pistachio Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Caprylyl Methicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, CI 77947, Methylpropanediol, CI 77891, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dibutyl Adipate, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Maris Sal, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Quaternium-18 Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Parfum, Hydrogenated Macadamia Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Pistachio Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Wax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, CI 77491, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Stearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Copper Gluconate, Ceramide EOP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Arginine, Carbomer, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocoglycerides
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Methylheptylglycerin
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phosphatidylserine
Emulsion StabilisingAstaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 9%, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cocoglycerides, Propanediol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethyl Ferulate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Methylheptylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phospholipids, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Glycolipids, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phosphatidylserine, Astaxanthin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oleic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Lactic 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.
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
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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium 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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
