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

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

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking, Skin Conditioning

This ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.

Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient, Emulsifying

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.

This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe

Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate

Vinyldimethicone

Vinyldimethicone is a type of silicone.

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning

Hydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin (a group of phospholipids). Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between hydrogen and another element.

This ingredient is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps soften skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.

Disodium EDTA

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

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

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant

Hydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.

This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing.

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Ingredient Ratings

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

Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream

When to use

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream 48 ingredients

Mixsoon Bean Cream 43 ingredients

204 Routines

48% use in am

52% use in pm

96% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

227 Routines

40% use in am

60% use in pm

95% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream 48 ingredients

4.0 /5

from 3 ratings

Hydrating (3) Heavy (2) Works Well (2)

Auria

9 months ago

Review

It’s a moisturiser made for dry and dry-combo skin. This is very hydrating but it can leave my skin feeling a little too sticky and moisturizing as the texture is on the slightly thicker side (cream) but it is lightweight. I tend to like to use this product during my night time routine and especially for the colder months (autumn + winter seasons). I have seen cases where this moisturizer had Show more

#hydrating

#absorbs well

#sticky

#light scent

Isntree

Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream

su maya

6 months ago

Review

i would only recommend this product to those who have dry skin as it does nothing but provide intense hydration

the only con of this product is that it feels quite sticky on the skin. bc of that reason i have never tried using it under makeup as i’m scared if it will pill or ruin my makeup :/

if you have severe dry skin this is perfect all year round but if not, i would suggest only using Show more

#hydrating

#heavy

#sticky

#light scent

Isntree

Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream

Mixsoon Bean Cream 43 ingredients

2.4 /5

from 10 ratings

Heavy (5) Expensive (5) Broke Me Out (5)

⁎⁺˳✧༚ 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥

10 months ago

Review

i struggle with closed comedones and this is not for people who struggle with cc’s. it’s definitely not lightweight and it clogged my pores. i wouldn’t recommend it to blemish-prone skins, but it might just be my skin. the plus is that it has no noticeable smell and is soothing.

#broke me out

#heavy

#oily

#no scent