What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glycerin
Humectant
Human Bone Marrow Stem Cell Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSyzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSh-Oligopeptide-33
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glycerin, Human Bone Marrow Stem Cell Conditioned Media, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Bakuchiol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethyl Linoleate, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Betaine, Potassium Sorbate, Glycosphingolipids, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract, Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-33, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAgar
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Micrococcus Lysate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Tocopherol, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Sodium Phytate, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Agar, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Juice, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itās known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
