What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
Emulsifying2,3-Butanediol
HumectantParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Propanediol
SolventLecithin
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingPinus Mugo Twig Leaf Extract
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, 2,3-Butanediol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Lecithin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Pinus Mugo Twig Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantGlucose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentLactobionic Acid
BufferingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCutibacterium Granulosum Ferment Extract Filtrate
EmollientFructose
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBenzyl Glycol
SolventTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Betaine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Glucose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Cutibacterium Granulosum Ferment Extract Filtrate, Fructose, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Benzyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris 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.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 BetaineButylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 WaterXanthan 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