What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-7 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPEG-15 Glyceryl Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Pantothenate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-7 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-15 Glyceryl Isostearate, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Sodium Pantothenate, Butylene Glycol, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingSea Water
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Protease
Exfoliating
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLaurylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Maltodextrin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Protease, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Decylene Glycol, Laurylpyridinium Chloride, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid
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
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EDTAHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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 Water
