What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Cellulose Gum, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Adenosine, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSodium Carboxymethyl Starch
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVeronica Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlucose
HumectantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantMorus Alba Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGinkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningBiota Orientalis Leaf Extract
HumectantZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch, Allantoin, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glucose, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit 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.
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateSodium 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