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

Glucose

Humectant

Glucose is a simple sugar and is the most important source of energy in all organisms.

In skincare, glucose is used to hydrate the skin. It also acts as a prebiotic for our natural biome.

Glucose is hydrating due to its humectant property. As a humectant, glucose draws moisture from the air and from deeper levels in the skin.

Our skin contains many sugars that act as prebiotics and help strengthen our natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome helps protect our skin from harmful bacteria and other contaminants.

Studies show glucose may help with fading discoloration and pigmentation. This is because our skin metabolizes glucose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is an AHA that helps exfoliate the top layer of skin.

Learn more about Glucose

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.

A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.

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.

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

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

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

Ingredient Ratings

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

Mugwort Calming Cream

Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream

When to use

Isntree Mugwort Calming Cream 29 ingredients

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream 57 ingredients

34 Routines

62% use in am

38% use in pm

79% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

485 Routines

35% use in am

65% use in pm

92% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Isntree Mugwort Calming Cream 29 ingredients

5.0 /5

from 2 ratings

Absorbs Well (2) Great Value (1) Hydrating (1)

skincareidiot

3 months ago

Review

Holy grail for redness!! It could potentially be a holy grail overall if I’d have tried it in summer. It’s not quite moisturising enough for winter, not too bad, just by the afternoon it feels like I could do with reapplying sometimes. Otherwise I love it!

It’s so lightweight and the textures perfect for me. It absorbs well and isn’t sticky or greasy. My skin doesn’t normally get on with Show more

#light

#absorbs well

#no scent

#works well

Isntree

Mugwort Calming Cream

Emily Curran

2 months ago

Review

HOLY GRAIL!! Great for redness and blemishes

#great value

#hydrating

#absorbs well

Isntree

Mugwort Calming Cream

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream 57 ingredients

4.0 /5

from 13 ratings

Hydrating (7) Works Well (5) No Scent (4)

oncenluv

10 months ago

Review

My holy grail. I was in desperate need of a barrier repairing moisturizer as I recently started accutane & cerave just wasn't cutting it. It is surprisingly lightweight, non-sticky, and leaves a nice glow on your skin and my skin still feels moisturized & hydrated in the morning even after rolling my face on my pillows.

#great value

#hydrating

#absorbs well

#no scent