What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Trehalose, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Zymomonas Ferment Extract
HumectantHoney Extract
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Arginine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Acer Saccharum Extract, Maltodextrin, Zymomonas Ferment Extract, Honey Extract
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
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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
