What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Extract 70%
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlucose
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Vinyldimethicone
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHouttuynia Cordata Extract 70%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isoamyl Laurate, Water, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Betaine, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glucose, Niacinamide, Vinyldimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Tromethamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phytate, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
Humectant
Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCholesterol
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Mannitol, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Palmitic Acid, Silica, Zinc Chloride, Cholesterol, Beta-Glucan, Sphingolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Myristic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Tocopherol
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.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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s 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 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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
