What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Water, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Betaine, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Benzyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Callus Extract
Antioxidant
Helichrysum Stoechas Extract
TonicPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingOrchid Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Amodimethicone
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Dextrin Palmitate, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Callus Extract, Helichrysum Stoechas Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Orchid Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Carnosine, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Amodimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
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
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 BetaineCaprylyl 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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
