What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract
AstringentPropanediol
Solvent
Tribehenin
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthyl Linoleate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract
HumectantLinalool
Perfuming
Alginic Acid
Skin ConditioningSilanetriol
Geraniol
Perfuming
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Acacia Senegal Gum, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Tribehenin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Linoleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract, Linalool, Alginic Acid, Silanetriol, Geraniol, Propyl Gallate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Tromethamine
BufferingPEG-8
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Trehalose, Sucrose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Caffeine, Sorbitol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-10, Sodium Polyaspartate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Tromethamine, PEG-8, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
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 or alcohol, 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 AcidGlycerin (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
