What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantBetaine
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Trehalose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSqualane
EmollientIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol Cocoate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylcellulose
Propanediol
SolventPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Betaine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Isostearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylcellulose, Propanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Hexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventGeraniol
PerfumingArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecanol, Cyclomethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Parfum, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Trideceth-6, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Salicylate, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Disodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Geraniol, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 14700
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 Water