What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCI 77947
Methylpropanediol
SolventCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPolypropylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Methicone Copolymer
Quaternium-18 Hectorite
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingParfum
MaskingHydrogenated Macadamia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Pistachio Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSucrose Stearate
EmollientCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, 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 AbsorberHomosalate 7%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 9%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocoglycerides
EmollientPropanediol
SolventMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthyl Ferulate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingMethylheptylglycerin
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylserine
Emulsion StabilisingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingOleic Acid
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingButyl 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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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