What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingJojoba Esters
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningZinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingZinc PCA
HumectantCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isododecane, Niacinamide, Jojoba Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Betaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingRose Flower Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSwiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingChrysanthemum Indicum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicParfum
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hyaluronic Acid, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Callus Culture Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Parfum, Triethanolamine
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidSodium 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