What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
HumectantAcrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Mannitol, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantPyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSea Salt
AbrasiveAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingMadecassoside
AntioxidantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingBifida Ferment Extract
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSilanetriol
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Tocopherol, Water, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Pyrus Malus Juice, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Betaine, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Sea Salt, Aspergillus Ferment, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Madecassoside, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Bifida Ferment Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Rice Amino Acids
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 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 AcidTocopherol 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