What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Euglena Gracilis Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ceramide NP, Euglena Gracilis Extract, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Disodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAluminum Sucrose Octasulfate
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientCellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Trehalose, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Carbomer, Allantoin, Betaine, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Madecassoside, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phosphate, Saccharide Isomerate, Phosphatidylcholine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Aluminum Sucrose Octasulfate, Algae Extract, Cellulose, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Caprylyl Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic 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 AcidSodium 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
