What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentLactococcus/Bean Seed Extract Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Algae Extract Ferment
Skin ProtectingSaccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSaccharomyces/Calcium Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Laminaria Saccharina Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Water Hyacinth Ferment
Skin ProtectingLactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Milk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment
Skin ProtectingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus/Milk Ferment Lysate
Lactococcus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Filtrate
HumectantBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Bacillus/Glutamic Acid Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Rice Bran Extract/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate
Antioxidant
Monascus/Rice Ferment
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment Filtrate Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPichia Ferment Lysate Filtrate
HumectantAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Soy Protein Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Malachite Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningAspergillus/Glucose/Soybean/Starch Ferment Filtrate
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Lactococcus/Bean Seed Extract Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Chlorella Ferment, Lactobacillus/Algae Extract Ferment, Saccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Calcium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Laminaria Saccharina Ferment, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Water Hyacinth Ferment, Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment, Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Milk Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Lactococcus/Milk Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment, Lactococcus Ferment Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Bacillus/Glutamic Acid Ferment Filtrate, Bacillus/Rice Bran Extract/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate, Monascus/Rice Ferment, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment Filtrate Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Pichia Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Soy Protein Ferment, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Malachite Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Aspergillus Ferment, Aspergillus/Glucose/Soybean/Starch Ferment Filtrate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Geraniol, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
Emulsifying2,3-Butanediol
HumectantParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
Lecithin
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingArtemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Glycerin, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, 2,3-Butanediol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Lecithin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem 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.
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is made when the Lactobacillus bacteria (the same kind that makes yogurt and kimchi) are allowed to ferment a nutrient medium.
As it ferments, it collects lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, and other bioactive metabolites to provide:
A 2023 review noted that probiotic fermentation ingredients like this one can enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce UV-induced oxidative damage, and support barrier function.
One clinical study from the same year showed a Lactobacillus ferment lysate significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and improved skin hydration.
Another review highlighted that topical Lactobacillus-based preparations can improve ceramide levels in the stratum corneum, support barrier integrity, and even help reduce S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.
Why is this so cool?
Basically, your skin's outer layer works as a brick wall; skin cells are bricks and ceramides are the mortar holding it together. Moisture escapes, irritants get in, and your skin gets dry and reactive when ceramide levels drop. On top of that, "bad" skin bacteria S. aureus loves to move in when your barrier is weak to make inflammation and irritation worse.
So Lactobacillus ferment is basically patching the wall and evicting the troublemaker when it boosts ceramide production and help keep S. aureus in check.
On top of all this, it also acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative booster.
Just so you know, most studies focus on specific strains or the lysate form rather than this generic "Lactobacillus Ferment", so results can vary.
Though it's a promising ingredient, it doesn't have decades of robust clinical data behind it just yet.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentWater. 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
