What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantArbutin
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantKojic Acid
AntioxidantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Extract
AntioxidantNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Arbutin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Arginine, Carbomer, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Kojic Acid, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Pyridoxine, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Glycosphingolipids, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Isostearate
EmollientMadecassoside
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Glyceryl Isostearate, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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