What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Saccharomyces/Snail Secretion Filtrate Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Ulmus Campestris Bark Extract
AstringentSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Plantago Asiatica Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Althaea Rosea Root Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Bee Venom
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Snail Secretion Filtrate Ferment Filtrate, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Ulmus Campestris Bark Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Panthenol, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Allantoin, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Arginine, Ceramide NP, Adenosine, Bee Venom, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
CI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Poria Cocos Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Dipeptide-2, Phenoxyethanol, Hyaluronic Acid, Fructan, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Glucose, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Cholesterol, Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oligopeptide-5, CI 16255, CI 15985
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 a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractButylene 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 GlycolHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinWater. 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
