What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sheep Milk
Skin ConditioningEuglena Gracilis Polysaccharide
Gel FormingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Carboxymethyl Chitosan
Gel FormingOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingDendrobium Nobile Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
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 ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pvp
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Kernel Extract
MaskingSerine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Glycine
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Pvp, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-9, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Polysorbate 20, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Maltodextrin, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Hippophae Rhamnoides Kernel Extract, Serine, Alanine, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Glycine, Xanthan Gum, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract, Lecithin, Proline
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
