What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLuffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingArtemisia Princeps Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Water, Betaine, Trehalose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Artemisia Princeps Extract, Panthenol, Sorbitol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phosphate, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPrunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientAcrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, 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
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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinWater. 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