What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventCarrageenan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAgar
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentSucrose
HumectantPotassium Chloride
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPearl Extract
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Carrageenan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucomannan, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Agar, Niacinamide, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dextrin, Sucrose, Potassium Chloride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Pearl Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAroma
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientUrea
BufferingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantCimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
AntimicrobialSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentNatto Gum
Water, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Carbomer, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aroma, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Urea, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Natto Gum
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractSodium 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