What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate
EmulsifyingPropoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Glutathione
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Alpha-Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate, Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Trideceth-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Glutathione, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingHydrolyzed Brazil Nut Protein
Skin ConditioningCopper Picolinate
SoothingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Carnosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Hydrolyzed Brazil Nut Protein, Copper Picolinate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
