What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate
EmollientIsopropyl Oleate
EmollientIsopropyl Sorbate
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glutathione
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Ionol
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chitosan
Pullulan
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Sodium Chloride
MaskingVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate, Isopropyl Oleate, Isopropyl Sorbate, Polysorbate 60, Glutathione, Glycerin, Alpha-Ionol, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Chitosan, Pullulan, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Sodium
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Nardus Oil
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Melo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Hesperidin
EmollientPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Methyl Gluceth-10, Polyglycerin-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Mentha Viridis Extract, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coptis Japonica Extract, Cucumis Melo Seed Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Glucose, Beta-Glucan, Linalool, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Cetyl Palmitate, Ubiquinone, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ergothioneine, Hesperidin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Beta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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
