What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract
CleansingCodonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betaine
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialThuja Orientalis Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Ethyl Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract, Magnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Piperita Extract, Phytosterols, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Panthenol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Xanthan Gum, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Thuja Orientalis Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Menthol
Masking
Citrus Depressa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningViscum Album Extract
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
Antimicrobial
Oak Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Salvia Officinalis Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Limon Leaf Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Niacinamide, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Menthol, Citrus Depressa Fruit Extract, Viscum Album Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Oak Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Betaine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA
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 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 GlycerinSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractWater. 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
