What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Laurylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Xylitol, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Maltodextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Ceramide NP, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glucose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Papain, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Fructan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Metabisulfite, Levulinic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Laurylpyridinium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningBambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
Abrasive
Cellulose
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientWater, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Cellulose, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Tromethamine, Niacinamide, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Lactobionic Acid, Papain, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
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 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPapain is a proteolytic enzyme extracted from unripe papaya fruit. It is a gentle exfoliator that helps remove the dead skin cells from your outermost layer of skin.
Basically, papain works by dissolving the "glue" holding dead skin cells to your skin's surface. This also promotes cell turnover and smooths texture.
Unlike other exfoliants, papain can work without causing significant irritation.
Beyond exfoliation, its proteolytic action also helps soothe irritated skin and supports the healing of minor wounds.
A 2024 in vivo/in vitro study confirmed its potential to suppress skin inflammation and improve transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in atopic dermatitis models.
Just one thing worth noting: there are reports of allergic responses in individuals with a papaya or latex sensitivity. Be sure to patch test if you're in this camp.
Learn more about PapainSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
Water. 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
