What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingChondrus Crispus
Masking
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Escin
TonicSorbitol
Humectant
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Chondrus Crispus, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Potassium Cocoate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Decylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Hydrated Silica, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Escin, Sorbitol, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Serine, Proline, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gluconolactone, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Butanediol
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Creatine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Maris Aqua
HumectantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Cholesterol
Emollient
Water, 1,2-Butanediol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Creatine, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Carnosine, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Maris Aqua, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium PCA, Glycine, Cholesterol
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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
