What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMagnesium Sulfate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientCellulose
AbsorbentSilica Silylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Citrate
BufferingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Beeswax, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Caffeine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Cellulose, Silica Silylate, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77891, Sodium Citrate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChondrus Crispus
MaskingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Chondrus Crispus, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Poloxamer 338, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum
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 GlycolDimethicone 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