What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Calcium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Sulfated Hyaluronate
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Oleoyl Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sea Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Malachite Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Calcium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Sulfated Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Hyaluronate, Sodium Oleoyl Hyaluronate
Sea Water
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Acer Rubrum Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carica Papaya Leaf Extract
TonicCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningOat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sea Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Betaine, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Carica Papaya Fruit, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Malachite Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Acer Rubrum Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carica Papaya Leaf Extract, Copper Gluconate, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Wheat Amino Acids, Oat Amino Acids, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, 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.Β
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 preservativesΒ
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidMalachite extract is created by grinding down the malachite stone.
More than half of the mineral is made up of copper, which plays a role in skin formation and regeneration processes.
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 GlycolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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
