What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Artemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSolidago Virgaurea Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArtemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Anthriscus Sylvestris Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Vine Sap
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Bambusa Arundinacea Juice
Abrasive
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Soluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Betaine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Trehalose, Tromethamine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Solidago Virgaurea Extract, Trisodium EDTA, Malachite Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Artemisia Annua Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Anthriscus Sylvestris Extract, Vitis Vinifera Vine Sap, Beta-Glucan, Bambusa Arundinacea Juice, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Thiamine Hcl, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Quercetin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Soluble Proteoglycan
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
Artemisia Annua Extract comes from sweet wormwood or the annual mugwort. This plant is best known historically as the source of the anti-malarial drug, artemisinin.
In skincare, this ingredient has skin soothing and conditioning properties that make it a great choice for sensitive, reactive, or acne-prone skin.
The extract is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and sesquiterpenes that do most of the work in a formula.
A 2020 human clinical trial found that cosmetics containing Artemisia Annua Extract increased stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss while also calming redness and inflammation over four weeks of use.
Lab and animal studies build on this as well, showing the extract reduces inflammatory signals, boosts a protein important for barrier health (filaggrin), and has anti-itch/antibacterial activity (including against C.acnes, the bacteria linked to breakouts).
There's also a well-documented artemisinin-free version called Artemisia Naphta oil which performed well at 1% in a small human trial for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
On concentrations, published research clusters around 1% for finished products.
The ingredient is generally well-tolerated, but people with Asteraceae or ragweed allergies may want to patch test first.
Learn more about Artemisia Annua ExtractBetaine 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 BetaineButylene 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 synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
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 GlycerinTrehalose 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 TrehaloseTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
