What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydrolyzed Cicer Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingRhododendron Chrysanthum Leaf Extract
MaskingSea Water
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sedum Sarmentosum Extract
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Histidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolyzed Cicer Seed Extract, Rhododendron Chrysanthum Leaf Extract, Sea Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sedum Sarmentosum Extract, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Saccharide Isomerate, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Tromethamine
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Glycolic Acid, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Betaine Salicylate, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Citric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
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
