What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-32
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Bentonite
Absorbent
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
Masking
Tagetes Minuta Flower Oil
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Versicolor Extract
EmollientLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningNarcissus Pseudo-Narcissus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-75
HumectantPolyquaternium-7
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, PEG-32, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Bentonite, Potassium Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Kaolin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil, Tagetes Minuta Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus Flower Extract, Rose Extract, PEG-75, Polyquaternium-7, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningBambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
Abrasive
Cellulose
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientWater, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Cellulose, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Tromethamine, Niacinamide, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Lactobionic Acid, Papain, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Camellia Japonica Flower 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.
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 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidSodium 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
