What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Water 70%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Houttuynia Cordata Water 70%, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Carbomer, Arginine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningFraxinus Rhynchophylla Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
TonicAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Phytate
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHouttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Glycerin, Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Fraxinus Rhynchophylla Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methyl Trimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Betaine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Phytate, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Carbomer
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 high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a synthetic ingredient with emollient and skin conditioner used to make skincare products feel more lightweight on the skin. It helps improve slip and spreadability without feeling greasy.
Because it is high molecular weight and lipophilic (oil loving), it remains on the surface of skin.
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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
