What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
CI 77891
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Vinyldimethicone
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Kernel Extract
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Trideceth-10
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Niacinamide, CI 77891, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Vinyldimethicone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycereth-26, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Trideceth-6, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-10, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitrus Tangerina Peel Oil
Masking
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Sodium Citrate, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Malt Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Limonene
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilSodium 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
