What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingInulin
Skin Conditioning
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCellulose
Absorbent
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Allantoin, Cellulose Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Inulin, C12-14 Alketh-12, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dipropylene Glycol, Squalane, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Retinol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Gellan Gum
Agar
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Arginine
Masking
Actinidia Arguta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Sophora Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglycerin-3, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinol, Retinal, Gellan Gum, Agar, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Polyquaternium-51, Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Cyanocobalamin, Ceramide NP, Maltodextrin, Arginine, Actinidia Arguta Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Sophora Japonica Flower Extract, Sodium Chloride, Phenylpropanol, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolWater. 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
