What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantPolyvinyl Alcohol
Niacinamide
SmoothingBenzyl Glycol
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlgin
MaskingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Aspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingValine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantMannitol
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Benzyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Algin, C12-14 Alketh-12, Allantoin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Cyanocobalamin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, CI 77891, Sodium Dna, Butylene Glycol, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Caffeine, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Glycine, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Collagen Extract, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Alanine, Lysine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Caprylyl Glycol, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Mannitol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Collagen, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantDioscorea Opposita Root
Skin ConditioningGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingAscorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Opposita Root, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Allantoin, Sucrose, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Potassium Laurate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed 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 AcidThis form of hyaluronic acid is produced through fermentation.
According to a manufacturer, it has a positive charge by ionic binding to help moisturize and give hair a smooth feel. This is why you'll find this ingredient in shampoos and body washes.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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