What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAllium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningAronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Corthellus Shiitake Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Sucrose
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Brassica Oleracea Capitata Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientPhaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Root Extract
AstringentWater, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glycerin, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Citrate, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Corthellus Shiitake Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Sucrose, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Morus Indica Leaf Extract
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Morinda Citrifolia Flower Extract
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ecklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
Antioxidant
Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Morus Indica Leaf Extract, Biotin, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Morinda Citrifolia Flower Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone
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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 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
