What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Panthenol, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Carica Papaya Fruit
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Malus Domestica Fruit Water
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Zinc PCA
Humectant
4-Terpineol
Masking
Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dna
Skin ConditioningWater, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Panthenol, Carbomer, Arginine, Gluconolactone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Zinc PCA, 4-Terpineol, Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Dna
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 AcidPanthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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
