What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
PEG-6
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Niacinamide, Propanediol, PEG-6, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Caprylyl Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Maltodextrin, Butylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Echinacea Purpurea Leaf/Stem/Meristem Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Ubiquinone, Echinacea Purpurea Leaf/Stem/Meristem Cell Culture Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric 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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
