What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Atelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Desamido Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientThioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ceteth-5
EmulsifyingCeteth-3
EmulsifyingCollagen
Moisturising
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Procollagen
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Soluble Collagen Crosspolymer
Emollient
Rosin Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Myristoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Soluble Collagen, Glycereth-26, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Allantoin, Collagen Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Atelocollagen, Desamido Collagen, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Silica, Retinal, Glutathione, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Thioctic Acid, Ceteth-5, Ceteth-3, Collagen, Collagen Amino Acids, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Procollagen, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Disodium EDTA, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Soluble Collagen Crosspolymer, Rosin Hydrolyzed Collagen, Potassium Myristoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Parfum
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Glycoproteins, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Citric Acid
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
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
