What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Gellan Gum
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingXylitol
Humectant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientOctanediol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningAgar
MaskingMagnesium Sulfate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAmber Powder
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Potassium Chloride
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingWater, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Dna, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hydroxyacetophenone, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Allantoin, Dipeptide-15, Gellan Gum, Anhydroxylitol, Calcium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Xylitol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Pyrus Malus Juice, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Octanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Dipotassium Phosphate, Acetyl Glutamine, Agar, Magnesium Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ceramide NP, Sodium Chloride, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1, Cellulose Gum, Amber Powder, Sodium Bicarbonate, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Polyglycerin-10
HumectantWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Aroma
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Squalane, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Polyglycerin-10, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Ectoin, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Aroma, Hexylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
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 AcidDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicone. It has a high refractive index and adds shine to formulations.
According to the safety review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, it is safe for use in cosmetics under the current practices and concentrations.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
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.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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
