What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcid Blue 1
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Fullerenes
AntimicrobialAstaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Guaiazulene, Maltodextrin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Acid Blue 1, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Ferulic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Beta-Glucan, Stearyl Alcohol, Fullerenes, Astaxanthin, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Pvp
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 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 GlycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene 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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
