What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract 92%
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolyester-5
Polyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract 92%, Alcohol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglutamic Acid, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyester-5, Polyquaternium-51, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Parfum, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Betaine
HumectantPPG-16
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEvodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Flour
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantIsohexadecane
EmollientCeteareth-33
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingLavandula Stoechas Flower/Stem Extract
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
PerfumingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysilicone-11, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Betaine, PPG-16, Sodium Hyaluronate, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sea Whip Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Flour, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Mica, Isohexadecane, Ceteareth-33, Titanium Dioxide, Decylene Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 80, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethyl Citrate, Lavandula Stoechas Flower/Stem Extract, Propanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Benzoate, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
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
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 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 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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