What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingXylitylglucoside
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlucose
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xylitol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Panthenol, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Glycerin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Tocopherol, Anhydroxylitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glucose, Ceramide NP, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantEryngium Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningIlex Aquifolium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Oil
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningErythritol
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDNA
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningCalcium Chloride
AstringentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMagnesium Sulfate
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Eryngium Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ilex Aquifolium Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Erythritol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, C12-14 Pareth-12, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Adenosine, Glycerin, DNA, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Carbomer, Triethylhexanoin, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hedera Helix Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Calcium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Magnesium Sulfate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerChondrus Crispus Extract comes from a red algae native to the northern Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. It helps hydrate the skin and is rich in antioxidants.
The antioxidants in chondrus crispus include lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein has the ability to filter blue light from screens.
Other contents of chondrus crispus include polysaccharides, peptides, and amino acids. These help hydrate the skin.
What's the difference between algae and seaweed?
Algae is a broad term that includes seaweed. Not all algae is seaweed.
Diphenyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHouttuynia Cordata Extract is more commonly known as Heart Leaf, Fish Mint, or Chameleon plant.
The components found in Heart Leaf give it antioxidant, hydrating, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Heart Leaf is rich in flavonoids such as quercetin, apigenin, and more. It also contains polysaccharides, the most common type of carbs in food.
Flavonoids have been shown to be effective antioxidants. They help neutralize free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are unstable molecules that may damage our skin cells and DNA. The flavonoids in Heart Leaf also help soothe the skin.
Polysaccharides are naturally found in our skin. They play a role in hydrating and repairing the top layer of skin. The polysaccharides in Heart Leaf help moisturize our skin.
Studies show decanoyl acetaldehyde, a component of Heart Leaf oil, is effective at killing bacteria.
The name 'Fish Mint' comes from the herb's natural fishy smell. Is is native to southeast Asia and used throughout the continent for traditional cooking and medicine.
Learn more about Houttuynia Cordata ExtractHydrogenated 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 LecithinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is also called sugarcane extract. It is a moisturizing humectant and has skin soothing properties.
Similar to hyaluronic acid, sugarcane can attract moisture to your skin.
Glycolic acid is a derivative of sugarcane. While glycolic acid is an AHA with exfoliating properties, sugarcane is not an AHA.
A study from 2021 found the compounds in sugarcane extract to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. The study also suggests these compounds can inhibit skin ageing enzymes and promote collagen synthesis.
Learn more about Saccharum Officinarum ExtractTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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