What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Pantolactone
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingSodium Surfactin
CleansingDextran
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Betaine, Allantoin, Octyldodecanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Glycolipids, Asiatic Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isopentyldiol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C12-13 Alketh-9, Sodium Surfactin, Dextran, CI 19140, CI 42090
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
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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
