What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantFulvic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingSargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingLactose
HumectantGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Angustifolium Extract
Skin ConditioningAgastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingSymphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Fulvic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Lactose, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phospholipids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Milk Protein, Polyglutamic Acid, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Glycolipids, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Sodium Benzoate, Symphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Eugenol
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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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