What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Tuber Melanosporum Extract
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pearl Extract
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Oil
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40
HumectantParfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tuber Melanosporum Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Pearl Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-40, Parfum
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment 60%
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Panthenol 1%
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment 60%, Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Glycereth-26, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol 1%, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glyceryl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Dextrin, Allantoin, Glucose, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
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
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-GlucanBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 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 AcidWater. 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
