What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Helichrysum Italicum Extract
AntiseborrhoeicBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water
MaskingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Betaine, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water, Glyceryl Glucoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Methylpropanediol, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Glucose, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 HyaluronateTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
