What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Bakuchiol, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, C14-22 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Phenylpropanol, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Glucose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glycerin
Humectant
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlutathione
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Fructan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glycerin, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glutathione, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Asiaticoside, Hedera Helix Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Fructan, Glucose, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Allantoin, Hexylresorcinol, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
