What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantGlucosamine Hcl
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHamamelis Virginiana Water, Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Gluconate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sorbitol, Proline, Fructooligosaccharides, Glucosamine Hcl, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Asiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Decyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltratePotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateSodium 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 Water