What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyisobutene
PEG-25 Glyceryl Isostearate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentZea Mays Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningVinca Minor Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialFructan
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid
AstringentGlucose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantDiglycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-22
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, PEG-25 Glyceryl Isostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Zea Mays Silk Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Sodium Dna, Allantoin, Vinca Minor Leaf Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Fructan, Tocopherol, Tranexamic Acid, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Diglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-22, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Collagen Amino Acids
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantUbiquinone
AntioxidantGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSpilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Water, Betaine, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ectoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Ubiquinone, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol
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
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract comes from the Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap plant. This plant is native to Northeast Asia and can be found in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.
In cosmetics, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is due to the flavonoid composition of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract.
In Chinese traditional folk medicine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is used to help treat lung issues and hypertension.
Learn more about Scutellaria Baicalensis Root 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 HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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