What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentMadecassoside
AntioxidantArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Arginine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose Cocoate, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Cyclodextrin, Madecassoside, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingLactobionic Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactose
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Lactobionic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Milk Protein, Panthenol, Madecassoside
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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed 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 AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosideMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract comes from the Tea Tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, Myrtaceae. This tea tree is native to Australia.
Tea Leaf extract contains antimicrobial and anti-acne properties.
This ingredient has perfuming properties and contains linalool and limonene. These fragrance and terpinen components can cause skin sensitivity.
Learn more about the benefits of Tea Tree Oil here.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf ExtractPanthenol 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 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