What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactose
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Betaine, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Phenethyl Alcohol, Milk Protein, Limonene, Linalool
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract, Betaine, Inulin, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice, Arginine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Water, Parfum, Linalool, Geraniol
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
Betaine 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 AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolSodium 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
