What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hexyldecyl Laurate
EmollientHexyldecanol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dicaprylyl Ether, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Hexyldecanol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Fructooligosaccharides, Xanthan Gum, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPolyquaternium-51 is a polymer salt. It helps hydrate the skin by creating a film on top. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Tromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
