What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glycerin
Humectant
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlutathione
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Fructan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glycerin, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glutathione, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Asiaticoside, Hedera Helix Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Fructan, Glucose, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Allantoin, Hexylresorcinol, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Vinyldimethicone
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glutathione
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pullulan
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
Astringent
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningHesperidin
EmollientErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vinyldimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-14 Alketh-12, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glutathione, Ferulic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pullulan, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Beta-Glucan, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sorbitol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beta-Carotene, Hesperidin, Ergothioneine, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in our bodies. It is made up of three amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
As an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell.
While glutathione is said to help with fading dark spots, the results from research are inconclusive. Further studies are needed. With that said, gluthatione has been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
This ingredient is naturally occurring in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.
Learn more about GlutathioneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
