What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCeteth-3
EmulsifyingCeteth-5
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Ceteth-3, Ceteth-5, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Arginine, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Corn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen
Moisturising
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Glycerin, Corn Gluten Amino Acids, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Polyglutamate, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-5, Silk Extract, Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Yeast Ferment Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Propylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
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
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.
Aloe is one of the most well-known natural soothing ingredients, and for good reason. It’s full of water and has a cooling, calming effect on the skin, especially when it’s sunburned, itchy, or irritated. Aloe also helps your skin stay hydrated and smooth by mimicking what healthy skin naturally produces. On top of that, it contains vitamins and nutrients that support skin recovery.
It doesn’t protect you from the sun, but it can help your skin bounce back after too much time in it.
Let’s get into the details:
Aloe contains antioxidant Vitamins A, C, and E, which help fight off free radicals (unstable molecules from things like pollution that can damage your skin).
It’s also rich in polysaccharides, which are natural sugars that help hydrate the skin by acting like the skin’s own moisturizing agents. These, along with other sugars like monosaccharides, help form a protective barrier that locks in moisture.
Aloe works as both a humectant and an emollient. That means it draws water into the skin (humectant) and helps trap it there (emollient), making it an effective natural moisturizer.
You’ll also find a mix of other skin-supporting ingredients in aloe, including folic acid, choline, calcium, amino acids, fatty acids, and even Vitamin B12.
Out of the 420+ species of aloe, Aloe barbadensis is the most widely used in skincare products thanks to its gentle yet effective properties.
There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractBeta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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
