What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBacillus
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingVitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Medica Fruit Juice Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
BufferingMalic Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingLactobionic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBenzyl Glycol
SolventPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeRaspberry Ketone
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Bacillus, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Citrus Medica Fruit Juice Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid, Panthenol, Inulin, Fructose, Allantoin, Sorbitol, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Raspberry Ketone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSorbitol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHeptapeptide-6
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Propylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Panthenol, Propanediol, Sorbitol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Heptapeptide-6, Copper Tripeptide-1, Micrococcus Lysate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
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
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPentylene 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 GlycolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract comes from the bilberry plant. This plant is native to Eurasia.
Bilberry contains antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. Fighting off these molecules can help reduce signs of aging.
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract also helps reduce irritation.
Learn more about Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit ExtractWater. 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