What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Surfactin
CleansingIsopentyldiol
HumectantDextran
Tocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Surfactin, Isopentyldiol, Dextran, Tocopherol
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.
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 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 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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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