What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientSheep Milk
Skin ConditioningEuglena Gracilis Polysaccharide
Gel FormingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
AntioxidantEctoin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantCarboxymethyl Chitosan
Gel FormingOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientOpuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingDendrobium Nobile Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
AntioxidantLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentEchinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Betaine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sheep Milk, Euglena Gracilis Polysaccharide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Ergothioneine, Ectoin, Propylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Carboxymethyl Chitosan, Oligopeptide-1, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Copper Tripeptide-1, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Dendrobium Nobile Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantOctanediol
Ascorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Bark Extract
AntimicrobialMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Oppositifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientHypochlorous Acid
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propanediol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tocopherol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Octanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Gluconate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Yeast Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cyanocobalamin, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Oppositifolia Root Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Hypochlorous Acid
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 GlycerinHouttuynia Cordata Extract is more commonly known as Heart Leaf, Fish Mint, or Chameleon plant.
The components found in Heart Leaf give it antioxidant, hydrating, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Heart Leaf is rich in flavonoids such as quercetin, apigenin, and more. It also contains polysaccharides, the most common type of carbs in food.
Flavonoids have been shown to be effective antioxidants. They help neutralize free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are unstable molecules that may damage our skin cells and DNA. The flavonoids in Heart Leaf also help soothe the skin.
Polysaccharides are naturally found in our skin. They play a role in hydrating and repairing the top layer of skin. The polysaccharides in Heart Leaf help moisturize our skin.
Studies show decanoyl acetaldehyde, a component of Heart Leaf oil, is effective at killing bacteria.
The name 'Fish Mint' comes from the herb's natural fishy smell. Is is native to southeast Asia and used throughout the continent for traditional cooking and medicine.
Learn more about Houttuynia Cordata ExtractSodium 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