What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentInulin
Skin ConditioningSwertia Chirata Extract
HumectantArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingBenzylsulfonyl D-Seryl Homophenylalanine Amidinobenzamide Acetate
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Squalane, Propanediol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Betaine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Maltodextrin, Inulin, Swertia Chirata Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Benzylsulfonyl D-Seryl Homophenylalanine Amidinobenzamide Acetate, Trehalose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Polyglutamic Acid, Panthenol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningAcetamidoethoxyethanol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhloretin
AntioxidantSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantWater, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Propanediol, Betaine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phloretin, Silybum Marianum Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Panthenol, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
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
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4 is a peptide with hydrating properties.
According to a manufacturer, a combination of this ingredient and caprylyl glycol strengthens the skin barrier by keeping your skin's natural biome in balance.
Betaine 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 BetaineCaprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlyceryl Glucoside is made from glycerol and glucose.
It is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture to it from the air.
Some foods that contain glyceryl glucoside include sake, miso, and wines.
Learn more about Glyceryl GlucosideThis ingredient is made when the Lactobacillus bacteria (the same kind that makes yogurt and kimchi) are allowed to ferment a nutrient medium.
As it ferments, it collects lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, and other bioactive metabolites to provide:
A 2023 review noted that probiotic fermentation ingredients like this one can enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce UV-induced oxidative damage, and support barrier function.
One clinical study from the same year showed a Lactobacillus ferment lysate significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and improved skin hydration.
Another review highlighted that topical Lactobacillus-based preparations can improve ceramide levels in the stratum corneum, support barrier integrity, and even help reduce S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.
Why is this so cool?
Basically, your skin's outer layer works as a brick wall; skin cells are bricks and ceramides are the mortar holding it together. Moisture escapes, irritants get in, and your skin gets dry and reactive when ceramide levels drop. On top of that, "bad" skin bacteria S. aureus loves to move in when your barrier is weak to make inflammation and irritation worse.
So Lactobacillus ferment is basically patching the wall and evicting the troublemaker when it boosts ceramide production and help keep S. aureus in check.
On top of all this, it also acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative booster.
Just so you know, most studies focus on specific strains or the lysate form rather than this generic "Lactobacillus Ferment", so results can vary.
Though it's a promising ingredient, it doesn't have decades of robust clinical data behind it just yet.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentPanthenol 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTremella Fuciformis is also known as snow mushroom. This ingredient comes from the sporocarp, which is also the fruit body of the fungi.
Snow mushroom has hydrating and antioxidant properties.
According to a manufacturer, the glucuronic acid of this ingredient promotes the presence of hyaluronic acid in the middle layer of skin to keep that layer sufficiently hydrated.
Learn more about Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp 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