What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingMethylparaben
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCystine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantGlutathione
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Methylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Cystine, Glycine, Sodium PCA, Glutathione, Sodium Hyaluronate, Petrolatum, Tocopherol, BHT, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTropolone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate
Skin ProtectingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosterols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Tropolone, Methyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate, Arginine, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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