What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPsoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract, Betaine, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Collagen Extract, Allantoin, Bakuchiol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Adenosine, Arginine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantBetaine
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientAluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Cleansing7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingPollen Extract
EmollientLecithin
EmollientLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentCalcium Chloride
AstringentPhytol
EmollientWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Betaine, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-13 Pareth-9, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Isomalt, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil Unsaponifiables, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables, Cholesterol, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Pollen Extract, Lecithin, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Calcium Chloride, Phytol
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 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate is a skin conditioner with emollient and emulsifier properties.
It is an esther of stearic acid and Polyglycerin-10.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 StearateWater. 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