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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Butylene Glycol

Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Learn more about Panthenol

Betaine

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.

This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.

Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.

Learn more about Betaine

Propanediol

Solvent

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

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 Propanediol

Allantoin

Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin

Glycerin

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.

It's All For You, Super-Ferment Essence

Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner

When to use

Idealove It's All For You, Super-Ferment Essence 41 ingredients

KAINE Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner 33 ingredients

24 Routines

54% use in am

46% use in pm

88% use every day

271 Routines

51% use in am

49% use in pm

97% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Idealove It's All For You, Super-Ferment Essence 41 ingredients

5.0 /5

from 1 rating

Clover

2 years ago

Review

The BEST Essence
I've tried several hydrating essences, and while I've liked others this is the only one I felt was really doing something. I have seen improvements in hydration, brightness, and evenness to my skin.
The ingredient list is impressive, and full of things my skin loves such as Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Peptites, Ceramides, Centella Asiatica, Licorice Show more

Idealove

It's All For You, Super-Ferment Essence

KAINE Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner 33 ingredients

4.0 /5

from 7 ratings

No Scent (4) Absorbs Well (3) Hydrating (3)

Clover

6 months ago

Review

Hydrating, but not much else...
I’m beginning to think tea is one of those ingredients that either works really well for you or just does nothing at all. Well… not nothing I guess… I don’t like saying a product/ingredient does absolutely nothing because I’m sure it has to do something. But for me whatever that something is must be so minimal that I personally didn’t notice any improvement in my Show more

#hydrating

#light

#no scent

#doesn't work

KAINE

Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner

Pea

5 months ago

Review

It has a really nice texture that doesn’t make my face feel too oily and also works well with my COSRX centella water toner to cool down my skin (I have rosacea). I also noticed the oiliness of my skin has reduced after using this product for a few months, though this may just be because I’ve started taking birth control to manage my acne breakouts. All in all, would re-purchase it just for its Show more

#hydrating

#absorbs well

#no scent

KAINE

Kombu Balancing Ampoule Toner