What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMilk Protein Extract
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyquaternium-7
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventParfum
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water
TonicOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Hedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
Tonic1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSalicylic Acid
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Malic Acid
Buffering
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Pyruvic Acid
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlutathione
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Milk Protein Extract, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Polyquaternium-7, Ethyl Hexanediol, Parfum, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Biotin, Salicylic Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Royal Jelly Extract, PCA, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Malic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Pyruvic Acid, Tocopherol, Tartaric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glutathione, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Surfactant
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingProtease
Exfoliating
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Benzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Coco-Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Protease, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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
