What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientBetaine
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Medica Peel Oil
Soluble Collagen
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingRaffinose
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Linoleate
AntioxidantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingIllicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Nardus Oil
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
MaskingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingSantalum Album Oil
MaskingFerula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
AntimicrobialRose Flower Oil
MaskingPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethiconol, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Soluble Collagen, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Panthenol, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Raffinose, Isostearyl Isostearate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Folic Acid, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, CI 42090, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantFructose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPCA
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMaltose
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantGlycine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingThreonine
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Fructose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, PCA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Maltose, Ceramide NP, Serine, Alanine, Sodium Chloride, Trehalose, Glycine, Allantoin, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Arginine, Threonine, Tropolone, Glucose, Proline
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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