What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingSoluble Collagen
HumectantSerine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantAlanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantChlorella Ferment
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
AstringentMannose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Panthenol, Betaine, Trehalose, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Arginine, Octyldodeceth-16, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Sodium Chloride, Soluble Collagen, Serine, Histidine, Alanine, Threonine, Proline, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Chlorella Ferment, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Mannose, Glucose, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveCollagen Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus
MaskingCalcium Chloride
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Chloride
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantSucrose
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Collagen Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chondrus Crispus, Calcium Chloride, Allantoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Potassium Chloride, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Cellulose Gum, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Trehalose, Sucrose, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCalcium chloride is a white, odorless, crystalline solid. It is an astringent and can be used to change the viscosity of products.
This ingredient is highly soluble in water, acetic acid, and ethanol.
There are many forms of this ingredient, including monohydrate, dihydrate, tetrahydrate, and hexahydrate.
Learn more about Calcium ChlorideGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol 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 PanthenolPropanediol 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 HyaluronateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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