What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Glycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Levulinate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Collagen Amino Acids, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Tomato Skin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Algin
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Lactate
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Hydrolyzed Tomato Skin, Betaine, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Phenylpropanol, Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Sodium Lactate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Benzoate, Levulinic Acid, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Levulinate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 BetaineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol 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 PropanediolSaccharide Isomerate comes from sugars found in corn. It is a skin hydrator.
The structure of this ingredient can be altered to be more similar to the carbohydrates found in our skin. This ability to mimic our skin gives it hydrating properties.
Specifically, saccharide Isomerate is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air to our skin.
Research shows Saccharide Isomerate to be an effective moisturizer.
Learn more about Saccharide IsomerateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium levulinate is the a sodium salt of Levulinic Acid. Oncedissolved in an aqueous solution, the two ingredients become identical. It is usually derived from renewable plant sources like corn starch or sugarcane.
In skincare, it mostly acts as a skin conditioning agent that keeps skin soft and hydrated. It also acts as a preservative booster by inhibiting the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria.
It's often paired with Sodium Anisate as the two create a broad-spectrum preservative system that is popular in "natural" formulations.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be non-irritated and there are no restrictions for use in EU cosmetics. The FDA also allows this ingredient to be used as a food-grade flavoring agent.
Learn more about Sodium LevulinateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
