What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polyacrylate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMalachite Extract
AntioxidantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingBenzophenone-5
UV AbsorberAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Prunella Vulgaris Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Unshiu Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Malachite Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Betaine, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Benzophenone-5, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Citrus Unshiu Fruit Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningBehenic Acid
CleansingBetaine
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingArachidic Acid
CleansingTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantPerilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Behenic Acid, Betaine, Tromethamine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Adenosine, Phytosphingosine, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan
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.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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineBetaine 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 HyaluronateTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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