What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment
Skin ProtectingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Alpha-Arbutin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, BHT, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Trehalose, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel, Lactobacillus, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cholesterol, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Phytosphingosine
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Trideceth-10
CleansingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Water, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Olivate, Carbomer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tromethamine, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Trideceth-10, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ascorbyl Glucoside
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
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseSodium 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
