What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate
Emulsifying
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Betaine
Humectant
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Adenium Obesum Leaf Cell Extract
MaskingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine, Madecassoside, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Betaine, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Adenium Obesum Leaf Cell Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-14 Pareth-12
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBisabolol
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Helichrysum Italicum Flower Water
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Hibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Portulaca Grandiflora Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, C12-14 Pareth-12, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Dipropylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adenosine, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Water, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract, Honey Extract, Portulaca Grandiflora Extract, Propolis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 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 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
