What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantErythritol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDiglycerin
HumectantSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAdipic Acid
BufferingAcorus Calamus Root Extract
PerfumingPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicGlucose
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-67
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientPrunella Vulgaris Extract
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Erythritol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Diglycerin, Sodium Dna, Methyl Gluceth-20, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Xylitylglucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Betaine, Anhydroxylitol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xylitol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglycerin-3, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adipic Acid, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Glucose, Adenosine, Polyquaternium-67, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Asiaticoside, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Ceramide NP, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningSalmon Egg Extract
Madecassoside
AntioxidantPortulaca Oleracea Water
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Water, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Dna, Salmon Egg Extract, Madecassoside, Portulaca Oleracea Water, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Betaine, Dextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidSodium DNA is an emerging anti-aging ingredient.
It is created by taking deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and purifying it with sodium hydroxide.
The DNA is extracted from several different animal sources, including: calf thymus, the gonadic tissue of a male sturgeon, or herring / salmon sperm.
You have probably seen this ingredient in anti-aging skincare. But what is it?
DNA is composed of nucleotides, or chemical building blocks. Nucleotides include adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Talk about a flashback to biology! Nucleosides are formed from these nucleotides.
The science behind Sodium DNA is based on an ingredient called Polydeoxyribonucleotide or PDRN.
PDRN are DNA fragments mainly extracted from the sperm cells of trout or salmon. Meaning, PDRN can be derived from Sodium DNA.
PDRN consists of chains of nucleotides and nucleosides mentioned above. They can range anywhere from 80 - 2000 pairs.
Studies show PDRN has the following properties:
Most of the research on PDRN has been done using injectable forms. That’s important, because PDRN is a large molecule and doesn’t absorb well through the skin. So if you’re applying it topically, the effects are likely to be much milder.
Still, topical Sodium DNA is emerging as a trendy anti-aging ingredient. It’s generally well-tolerated and offers good biocompatibility with human skin, making it a low-risk addition to most routines.
Further studies are needed to truly confirm this ingredients anti-aging ability (Remember, retinol has decades of research!).
Sodium DNA may be sourced from fish, animal tissue, or plants. Since this isn’t always disclosed, we recommend asking the brand directly if the ingredient’s origin is important to you.
Learn more about Sodium DnaSodium 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