Water. 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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Butylene Glycol

Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
It helps improve product application.
It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Hydroxyethyl Urea comes from urea. It is a great moisturizer and often compared to glycerin.

The manufacturer claims hydroxyethyl urea is not sticky or tacky, so no modifier ingredients are needed to adjust how it feels on skin.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Succinic Acid

Buffering, Masking

Succinic acid is an odorless white powder. It is naturally found in our bodies but can also be derived from living organisms.

Succinic acid is water-soluble. The pH level of this ingredient is between 4.2 and 5.6.

While succinic acid posesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, these properties have not been studied in skincare products.

Fun fact: Succinic acid was known as the 'spirit of amber' in the past. This is because it used to be derived from distilling amber.

Learn more about Succinic Acid

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.

Gokujyun Premium Lotion

Heartleaf Essence Calming Pump

When to use

Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion 31 ingredients

Abib Heartleaf Essence Calming Pump 21 ingredients

27 Routines

56% use in am

44% use in pm

96% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

179 Routines

49% use in am

51% use in pm

95% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium Lotion 31 ingredients

4.7 /5

from 3 ratings

Hydrating (3) Works Well (3) No Scent (2)

Natalie Winter

1 month ago

Review

Great for a compromised skin barrier. Feels super hydrating and occlusive -- similar to a snail mucin texture. Leaves a bit of a sticky/tacky finish, which doubles as a primer under makeup. Also makes the skin super glowy. WRP (just wish it was fragrance-free).

#great value

#hydrating

#sticky

#works well

Hada Labo

Gokujyun Premium Lotion

Oreoluwa Jejeloye

1 month ago

Review

It is super hydrating and i use it mostly on those days i dont want to do too much.. I cleanse, use this and sunscreen👏🏾

#great value

#hydrating

#sticky

#no scent

Hada Labo

Gokujyun Premium Lotion

Abib Heartleaf Essence Calming Pump 21 ingredients

5.0 /5

from 3 ratings

Absorbs Well (3) Hydrating (3) Light (3)

Laila

1 year ago

Review

I've nearly used the entire bottle and I can say that It helped soo much with my reddness, acne and irritation after I stopped using panoxyl and only focused on hydration.
I already bought a second one. love abib🌿💗

#great value

#hydrating

#light

#absorbs well