What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrofortunella Microcarpa Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Citrate, Betaine Salicylate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrofortunella Microcarpa Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Glucan, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Propolis Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingErythritol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantGlutathione
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantChitosan
Ascorbic Acid
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-3, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Erythritol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Glutathione, Acetyl Glucosamine, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Chitosan, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ceramide NP, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Allantoin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic 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.
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
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.
Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:
In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.
The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.
A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.
Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).
Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinBeta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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