What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantSalvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Leaf Extract
PerfumingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingMenthol
MaskingCitrus Depressa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningViscum Album Extract
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingCapsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialOak Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Salvia Officinalis Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Limon Leaf Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Niacinamide, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Menthol, Citrus Depressa Fruit Extract, Viscum Album Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Oak Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Betaine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
4-Terpineol
MaskingSuccinic Acid
BufferingBetaine
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sorbitol, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 4-Terpineol, Succinic Acid, Betaine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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