What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlycolic Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantLactobionic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingTartaric Acid
BufferingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentCeteareth-25
CleansingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-8
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingTranexamic Acid
AstringentOctyldodecanol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ceramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Malic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Mandelic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Gluconolactone, Betaine, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycolic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Lactobionic Acid, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Cyclodextrin, Ceteareth-25, CI 42090, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Carnosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-8, Alpha-Arbutin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Tranexamic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Nonapeptide-1, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, CI 16035, CI 77266
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantAroma
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCI 14720
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenoxyethanol, Alpha-Arbutin, Glycerin, Aroma, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, CI 14720
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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 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