What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Fructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCholeth-24
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Betaine, Panthenol, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glucose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Allantoin, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSalmon Egg Extract
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
EmollientSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Salmon Egg Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Dna, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Bacillus Ferment, Pullulan, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tocopherol
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
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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