What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment 70%
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment
Humectant
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Jasminum Officinale Flower Water
MaskingHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Magnesium Chloride
Benzyl Glycol
SolventPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment 70%, Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Decyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Madecassoside, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Water, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyanocobalamin, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Chloride, Benzyl Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caramel, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Pentylene Glycol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Tromethamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 AcidPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
