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

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Pentylene 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 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

Trehalose

Humectant, Moisturising

Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.

As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.

In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.

Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.

Learn more about Trehalose

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

Butylene Glycol

Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
It helps improve product application.
It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Skin Conditioning

This extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.

Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.

Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.

Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.

Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Ingredient Ratings

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

Hyaluronic Acid Toner

Centella Unscented Toner

When to use

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner 18 ingredients

PURITO Centella Unscented Toner 19 ingredients

408 Routines

50% use in am

50% use in pm

97% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

180 Routines

51% use in am

49% use in pm

94% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner 18 ingredients

4.2 /5

from 6 ratings

Absorbs Well (3) Hydrating (2) Light (2)

Chien Yun Ang

2 years ago

Review

HG Toner
A toner that is very gentle to my sensitive skin and keeps my face hydrated throughout the day.

Isntree

Hyaluronic Acid Toner

It's VERY good at keeping hormonal acne away and dark spots, but it is SOOO drying. I have really oily skin and using this product in 1 week gave me dry patches around my cheeks, jawline, and chin area that has never come up before in my life.

I've only started using this toner 2-3 times a week, because using it everyday can have worse effects than good ones.

#expensive

#drying

#light

#absorbs well

Isntree

Hyaluronic Acid Toner

PURITO Centella Unscented Toner 19 ingredients

4.3 /5

from 6 ratings

Light (4) Hydrating (4) Works Well (3)

Ariiii444

10 months ago

Review

Very light and soothing, it reduces a little bit of my redness. But remember toners are just toners so don’t expect much results 😅

#hydrating

#light

#absorbs well

PURITO

Centella Unscented Toner

Steph

3 months ago

Review

I really liked this toner it seemed like a toner/serum like toner. It was great for my skin . My skin felt hydrated after using it and after my serums and creams would always feel better after using this toner. I would recommend for combination sensitive dry skin. It calms your skin as well. It’s so good.

#great value

#hydrating

#light

#no scent

PURITO

Centella Unscented Toner