What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
SolventGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sucrose
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMineral Salts
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Nardus Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingWater, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Xylitol, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Octyldodeceth-16, Betaine, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mineral Salts, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Betaine, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Betaine Salicylate, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Arginine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Limonene
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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHouttuynia Cordata Extract is more commonly known as Heart Leaf, Fish Mint, or Chameleon plant.
The components found in Heart Leaf give it antioxidant, hydrating, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Heart Leaf is rich in flavonoids such as quercetin, apigenin, and more. It also contains polysaccharides, the most common type of carbs in food.
Flavonoids have been shown to be effective antioxidants. They help neutralize free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are unstable molecules that may damage our skin cells and DNA. The flavonoids in Heart Leaf also help soothe the skin.
Polysaccharides are naturally found in our skin. They play a role in hydrating and repairing the top layer of skin. The polysaccharides in Heart Leaf help moisturize our skin.
Studies show decanoyl acetaldehyde, a component of Heart Leaf oil, is effective at killing bacteria.
The name 'Fish Mint' comes from the herb's natural fishy smell. Is is native to southeast Asia and used throughout the continent for traditional cooking and medicine.
Learn more about Houttuynia Cordata ExtractThis tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.
Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.
However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.
Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.
Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilSodium 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