What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Saponins
CleansingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Algin
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Dextran
Mineral Salts
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Lactobacillus Ferment, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructan, Inulin, Panthenol, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Saponins, Soluble Proteoglycan, Nonapeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Pentapeptide-3, Hexapeptide-9, Oligopeptide-2, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cellulose Gum, Polyquaternium-51, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Algin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Sodium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sucrose, Dextran, Mineral Salts, Disodium Phosphate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tripropylene Glycol
Antioxidant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Gellan Gum
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Water, Sea Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tripropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Beta-Glucan, Xylitol, Propanediol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Gellan Gum, Sodium DNA, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malachite Extract, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Disodium EDTA
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
Beta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPropanediol 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 Water
