What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantPanax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialIctasol
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine Salicylate, Ictasol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
PerfumingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Tocopherol
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Xylitol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octanediol, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Disodium EDTA, 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.
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
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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum