What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSorbitol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
TonicBetaine
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBixa Orellana Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sorbitol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Persea Gratissima Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Betaine, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butylene Glycol, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Carbomer, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Arginine, Potassium Sorbate, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract 0.02%
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingBetaine
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
BufferingPantolactone
HumectantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Citronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propolis Extract 0.02%, Dimethicone, Sodium Citrate, Betaine, Sorbitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Gluconolactone, Lactobionic Acid, Pantolactone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Citronellol, Geraniol
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 GlycolCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolDisodium 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 GlycerinSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolWater. 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