What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventDi-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-48 Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Pseudozyma Epicola/Apricot Kernel Oil/Olive Fruit Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil/Sweet Almond Oil/(Angelica Gigas/Lithospermum Erythrorhizon) Root Extract Ferment Extract Filtrate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Hectorite
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, C13-15 Alkane, Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Myristyl Myristate, Sorbitan Olivate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Bakuchiol, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Diheptyl Succinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexapeptide-48 Hcl, Glycerin, Pseudozyma Epicola/Apricot Kernel Oil/Olive Fruit Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil/Sweet Almond Oil/(Angelica Gigas/Lithospermum Erythrorhizon) Root Extract Ferment Extract Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Hectorite, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Cocos Nucifera Water, Betaine, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, Carbomer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Myristic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum
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. Itβs 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 BetaineCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium 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 HyaluronateTremella Fuciformis is also known as snow mushroom. This ingredient comes from the sporocarp, which is also the fruit body of the fungi.
Snow mushroom has hydrating and antioxidant properties.
According to a manufacturer, the glucuronic acid of this ingredient promotes the presence of hyaluronic acid in the middle layer of skin to keep that layer sufficiently hydrated.
Learn more about Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp ExtractTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Water. 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
