What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Bellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
TonicPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Saussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Water, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Betaine, Glycerin, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Arginine, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Carbomer, Freesia Refracta Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Potassium Sorbate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Candelilla Cera
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingTromethamine
BufferingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentGuaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Polysorbate 60, Candelilla Cera, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Morus Alba Root Extract, Tromethamine, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Guaiazulene, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
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 ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.
Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.
Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.
Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.
Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea ExtractTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
