What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Dna
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sodium Dna, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Dna, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tripeptide-1, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Madecassic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Santalum Album Extract
CleansingErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Micrococcus Lysate, Plankton Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, BHT, Santalum Album Extract, Ergothioneine, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidDisodium 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
