What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingThymol Trimethoxycinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingCholesterol
Emollient
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Oleanolic Acid
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Carbomer, Thymol Trimethoxycinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Cholesterol, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Silica, Oleanolic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract 10%
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sophora Flavescens Extract
Skin ConditioningImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentPEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Propolis Extract 10%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Sophora Flavescens Extract, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Propanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Arginine, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Honey Extract, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Biotin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Disodium EDTA
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 high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 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
