What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-90
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSilk Extract
Skin ConditioningGoat Milk Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTropolone
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Bifida Ferment Lysate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Water, Niacinamide, PEG-90, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Silk Extract, Goat Milk Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Adenosine, Glycereth-26, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine Salicylate 0.9%
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Extract
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningSoy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCodium Fragile Extract
Skin ConditioningGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSea Silt Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Xanthan Gum, Betaine Salicylate 0.9%, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Trehalose, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Soy Isoflavones, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Codium Fragile Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sea Silt Extract, Tromethamine
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.
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 preservatives
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 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateTromethamine 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