What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningProtease
ExfoliatingBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Protease, Betaine, Panthenol, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Fructan, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingEucalyptus Dives Leaf Oil
PerfumingAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingCitrus Species Leaf Oil
PerfumingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantProtease
ExfoliatingAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMyristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientEthoxydiglycol
HumectantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Eucalyptus Dives Leaf Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Citrus Species Leaf Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Protease, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethoxydiglycol
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
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 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolProtease is an enzyme that works as a gentle exfoliant by mimicking something your skin already does naturally.
Your skin uses proteolytic enzymes to carry out desquamation; this is the process of shedding dead skin cells from the stratum corneum.
In skincare, proteases act as biological catalysts that mimic this natural desquamation process. You can think of it as giving your skin's own renewal system a nudge.
By breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together, proteases help accelerate cell turnover to:
One reason they're becoming a popular AHA alternative is because proteases are considered effective while also being well-tolerated on skin. Because they work at a protein level rather than by lowering the skin pH, they can be a good option for those sensitive to AHAs.
Available in vitro and in vivo studies show positive exfoliant results but clinical (human) trials specifically on enzymatic exfoliation are still limited at this time.
Just one thing worth noting: temperature, pH, and stabilization are important factors that affect enzyme activity. The formulation quality definitely matters with this ingredient.
This ingredient can be either microbial sourced or plant-derived (papain from papaya, bromelain from pineapple).
Learn more about ProteaseSodium 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