What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silanediol Salicylate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutin
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glutathione
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Water, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Gluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Silanediol Salicylate, Gluconolactone, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Arbutin, Acetyl Tyrosine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glutathione, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linolenic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Trideceth-6, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Acacia Senegal Gum Extract
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion Stabilising3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate
Sodium Gluceptate
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl 2-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Acacia Senegal Gum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate, Sodium Gluceptate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl 2-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Butylene 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 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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
