What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventSorbitol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGossypium Herbaceum Fruit Water
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingGlucose
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Sorbitol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gossypium Herbaceum Fruit Water, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Malt Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Fructan, Citric Acid, Glucose, Sodium Citrate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCellulose
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Powder
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Propanediol
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArtemisia Caruifolia Powder
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cellulose, Oryza Sativa Powder, Sodium Isethionate, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Artemisia Caruifolia Powder, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract
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
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 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