What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glucose
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Fructose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Methylpropanediol
SolventPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Liliflora Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Extract
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glucose, Carbomer, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Fructose, Fructooligosaccharides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cyanocobalamin, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Methylpropanediol, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Magnolia Liliflora Flower Extract, Bifida Ferment Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Glycerin
Humectant
Agave Americana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingCollagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingWater, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Agave Americana Stem Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Collagen Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
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.
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 preservatives
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 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 GlycolChlorella Vulgaris Extract comes from a green microalga. It is hydrating and contains antioxidants.
Studies also show Chlorella Vulgaris may help in rebuilding collagen and elastin. This ingredient is made up of lipids, carbohydrates, and chlorophyll.
Fun fact: This ingredient is commonly used as food additive in Japan.
Learn more about Chlorella Vulgaris ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinFructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of prebiotic sugar with humectant and skin conditioning properties. As a humectant, they help attract and hold moisture in the skin.
FOS essentially acts as a food source for the "good" bacteria on your skin and make it harder for "bad" bacteria to thrive. A 2022 study using a reconstructured human skin model found that just 1% of FOS was enough to shift the bacteria balance in favor of beneficial species. This suggests it could help support a healthier skin microbiome over time.
This ingredient has a low sensitization risk and testing shows it does not classify as a skin irritant or sensitizer.
FOS are usually produced from sugar beets and can also be found in foods like bananas, garlic, and onions.
Learn more about FructooligosaccharidesGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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
