What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Squalane
EmollientPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTriacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Chlorphenesin, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium PCA, Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose Gum, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Trehalose, Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Titanium Dioxide
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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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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