What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide 5%
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlutathione
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Taurine
BufferingValine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningOrnithine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide 5%, Propanediol, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Glutathione, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sodium Phytate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stellaria Media Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Taurine, Valine, Serine, Leucine, Methionine, Ornithine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Arginine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Citral, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-14 Pareth-12, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, Tromethamine, Glucose, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 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 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
