What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingRoyal Jelly
Dextrin
AbsorbentCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCoptis Chinensis Root Extract
AntioxidantSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingWater, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Trehalose, Sorbitan Isostearate, Royal Jelly, Dextrin, Copper Tripeptide-1, Polyisobutene, Theobroma Cacao Extract, BHT, Glycerin, Beta-Glucan, Polyacrylate-13, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Dimethicone, Adenosine, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Propolis Extract, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingOcimum Basilicum Oil
MaskingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Collagen Extract, C12-16 Alcohols, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Adenosine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Dextrin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract
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
Adenosine 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinDisodium 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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateThis ingredient is extracted from the seeds of the cocoa tree.
Cacao seeds contain antioxidants known as polyphenols. These include flavonoids, procyanidins, and epicatechins.
Studies show these polyphenols help improve skin health.
The more famous ingredient from cocoa tree is cocoa butter.
Learn more about Theobroma Cacao ExtractTrehalose 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 helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
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 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