What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Prunus Lannesiana Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Anhydroxylitol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitol, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Tocopherol, Prunus Lannesiana Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-8
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract
MaskingLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl PEG-44/Poly(1,2-Butanediol)-15 Dimethyl Ether
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG-10 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ammonium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
PEG-30 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Water, Aspergillus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-8, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium PCA, Erythritol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Lactic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Fructose, Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleyl PEG-44/Poly(1,2-Butanediol)-15 Dimethyl Ether, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, PEG-10 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Ammonium Lactate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tocopherol, PEG-30 Phytosterol, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum
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 GlycerinSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
