What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Glycol
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tromethamine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Ascorbic Acid, Ceramide NP, Benzyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Dextrin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Gluconolactone, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Volcanic Soil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Amylopectin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Volcanic Soil, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Isohexadecane, Ascorbic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Amylopectin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1
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
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
