What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientVegetable Oil
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Vegetable Oil, Polyacrylamide, Carbomer, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Seed Extract
AstringentTocopherol
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingSorbityl Laurate
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, Sodium PCA, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Lecithin, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Glycine Soja Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Allantoin, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Sorbityl Laurate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSambucus Nigra Flower Extract comes from the European Elder Tree. It's a polyphenol-rich extract that give it antioxidant, skin soothing, and tonic properties.
In-vitro studies show elder extracts can inhibit collagenase (or the enzyme that degrades collagen), including the ones triggered by UV damage from the sun.
This ingredient is generally well-tolerated unless you have a known elder or Adoxaceae allergy.
Learn more about Sambucus Nigra Flower ExtractSodium 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