What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Water
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Phytate
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantFullerenes
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycine Soja Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Arbutin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Ceramide NP, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Citrate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentylene Glycol, Pvp, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosterols, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Fullerenes, Limonene, Linalool
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveBisabolol
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Panthenol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Bisabolol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Adenosine, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Maltodextrin, Arginine, Carbomer, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidAdenosine 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinFructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of prebiotic sugar with humectant and skin conditioning properties. As a humectant, they help attract and hold moisture in the skin.
FOS essentially acts as a food source for the "good" bacteria on your skin and make it harder for "bad" bacteria to thrive. A 2022 study using a reconstructured human skin model found that just 1% of FOS was enough to shift the bacteria balance in favor of beneficial species. This suggests it could help support a healthier skin microbiome over time.
This ingredient has a low sensitization risk and testing shows it does not classify as a skin irritant or sensitizer.
FOS are usually produced from sugar beets and can also be found in foods like bananas, garlic, and onions.
Learn more about FructooligosaccharidesGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPanthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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