What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Frutescens Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Betaine
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Propolis Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Panthenol, Perilla Frutescens Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Zinc PCA, Pantolactone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lanolin
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Water, Glycoproteins, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Squalane, Niacinamide, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid, Lanolin, Arginine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propolis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Honey, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
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
Betaine 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Extract comes from the witch hazel plant.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel has astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
The tannin content of witch hazel constrict the appearance of pores by drying out proteins. Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
However, witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing due to the tannin and fragrance compounds.
North American Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana ExtractPropolis Extract is a natural ingredient derived from propolis (also known as bee glue). Bees make propolis by mixing their saliva and beeswax with resins collected from tree buds and plants.
This ingredient is packed with bioactive compounds like flavonoids, phenolic acids, and amino acids that give it antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Research shows it can help:
It also pairs nicely with hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides.
Just so you know, Propolis Extract is recognized as a contact allergen. In patch tests done in the EU, roughly 1-6% of patients react to it. Be sure to steer clear of this ingredient if you have a known allergy to bee products.
Since it is an animal-derived product, this ingredient is not considered vegan. For vegan alternatives, check out Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract.
Learn more about Propolis ExtractSodium 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
