What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEpigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Panthenol, Diglycerin, Bisabolol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ectoin, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopherol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dextrin
AbsorbentWater, Glycerin, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Beta-Glucan, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Dextrin
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
Beta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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
