What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Phytate
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningWater, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phytate, Ceramide NP, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-4
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMannitol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSucrose
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingAnetholea Anisata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentWater, Glycerin, Mannitol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sucrose, Zea Mays Starch, Aminomethyl Propanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Acetate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Phosphate, Anetholea Anisata Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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