What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingSodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Zea Mays Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xylitol, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Adenosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Cyanocobalamin, Rosa Damascena Extract, Sodium Dna, Gluconolactone, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zea Mays Leaf Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentProtease
Exfoliating
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Dextrin, Propanediol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclodextrin, Protease, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated 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
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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
