What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingUrea
BufferingFructose
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlucose
HumectantSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientRhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientRhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltose
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCleome Gynandra Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicEleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract
AstringentMalachite Extract
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventCarrageenan
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Urea, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Rhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Maltose, Allantoin, Cleome Gynandra Leaf Extract, Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract, Malachite Extract, Propanediol, Carrageenan, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Carbomer, Parfum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Water
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Coconut Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHoney Extract
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentWater, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Glycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Honey Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Dextrin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root 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.
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer is made up of glycerin and polyacrylic acid. It helps hydrate your skin as a humectant.
This ingredient forms a hydrogel that delivers moisturizing, water-based ingredients to the skin. It is also used to thicken a product and to give it a smooth texture.
Acrylic acid itself is toxic, but the polymer form (this ingredient) is too large to penetrate skin, making it non-toxic.
Learn more about Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid CopolymerPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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