What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantAgar
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGlucose
HumectantPotassium Chloride
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingErythritol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ceramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Glycerin, Agar, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Glucose, Potassium Chloride, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Xanthan Gum, Erythritol, Xylitol, Trehalose, Panthenol, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopherol, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Gluconic Acid
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingLactobionic Acid
BufferingGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlutathione
Serine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantArginine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Chloride
Fullerenes
AntimicrobialCalcium Chloride
AstringentParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Betaine, Trehalose, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Allantoin, Adenosine, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Gluconic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Mandelic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Aspartic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Serine, Histidine, Arginine, Alanine, Threonine, Proline, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Chloride, Fullerenes, Calcium Chloride, Parfum
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
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 AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerTrehalose 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