What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Sh-Decapeptide-5 Sp
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Malt Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Arginine, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Mannitol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Sh-Decapeptide-5 Sp
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAstaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose Distearate, Zinc PCA, Collagen, Gluconolactone, Sodium DNA, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Retinal, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Morus Alba Root Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Astaxanthin, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCoptis Japonica Root Extract, also known as Japanese Goldthread, is a traditional East Asian herb. It is prized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
That’s not all - research in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that its active compound, berberine, may help reduce fat accumulation and slow down fat cell development.
This makes it a promising ingredient for slimming and anti-cellulite products!
Learn more about Coptis Japonica Root ExtractDextrin is a starch-derived polysaccharide. It's made by partially breaking down corn, potato, or other plant starches.
Think of it as "half-processed" starch; it's less complex than the original but not fully broken down into sugar like maltodextrin.
In cosmetics, it mainly functions as a bulking agent, viscosity controller, binder, and absorbent. It helps thicken products, stabilize powders, and get certain textures a less "wet" feel.
This ingredient has a pretty solid safety profile; it's recognized as a safe food additive and its large molecular size means it doesn't meaningfully penetrate skin.
Human repeat insult patch tests using a rinse-off facial product containing 42.69% dextrin found no skin irritation or sensitization in 54 subjects.
Typical real-world usage is much lower: usually under 1% as a texture modifier and up to 40% in masks (rinse off products use less).
Learn more about DextrinEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 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
