What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice
Skin ConditioningPhyllostachys Bambusoides Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Gluconolactone, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentGlycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Princeps Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
SurfactantCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPsidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Betaine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Ceramide NP, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Glucose, Xanthan Gum
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.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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinBetaine 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 BetaineButylene 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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EthylhexylglycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser.
On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateSodium 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
