What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSqualane
EmollientEctoin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Ectoin, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientRose Flower Oil
MaskingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingPotassium Chloride
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Allantoin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rose Flower Oil, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Potassium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Caprylate
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 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 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 EDTAGlycerin (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