What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantLactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantRose Flower Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningClitoria Ternatea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sea Water, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Propylene Glycol, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Rose Flower Oil, Disodium EDTA, Guaiazulene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantMagnesium Chloride
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment
Skin ProtectingLactococcus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
AntioxidantLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Vinyldimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Gluconate, Tocopherol, Pyridoxine Hcl, Yeast Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Squalane, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose, Ethyl Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Lactococcus Ferment, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Polyquaternium-51, Hexylene Glycol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Phenoxyethanol, Triacetin, Sodium 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.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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