What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract 50%
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium EDTA
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosmarinic Acid
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract 50%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Trisodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Arginine
Masking
Glutathione
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAbies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
Masking
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingVinyldimethicone
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacin
SmoothingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingCarnitine Hcl
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingManganese Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Maltodextrin, Arginine, Glutathione, C12-14 Alketh-12, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Squalane, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Adenosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Abies Sibirica Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Vinyldimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ceramide NP, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Oleic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Folic Acid, Thiamine Hcl, Carnitine Hcl, Biotin, Phosphatidylcholine, Manganese Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate
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 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 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 Water
