What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantBetaine
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantEctoin 0.5%
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDipeptide-15
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glycereth-26, Ectoin 0.5%, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Octyldodeceth-16, Allantoin, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Dipeptide-15, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPhyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientGlucose
HumectantCyclodextrin
AbsorbentWater, Betaine, Glycerin, Propanediol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Sodium Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glucose, Cyclodextrin
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 GlycolGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidOryza Sativa Extract comes from the rice grain, Oryza sativa. Rice extract has wound healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating properties.
Rice grains contain numerous antioxidants which may help with anti-aging, such as vitamin E. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radical molecules. Unstable free-radical molecules may damage your skin cells and accelerate signs of aging.
A study from 2002 found rice to help increase the rate of wound healing. The same study found an improvement of skin barrier function in the patients after taking rice baths.
Numerous in-vitro studies have found rice water to help decrease sun damage by increasing collagen production and inhibiting the process of tyrosinase.
Long story short- tyrosinase is an enzyme that controls melanin production. Our bodies start producing melanin (AKA tanning) when exposed to UV radiation to protect against damage. Rice water is found to partially block this process.
Though more research is needed on rice's ability to help with UV protection, recent studies seem promising.
Wondering why rice is hydrating? The protein in rice have emollient properties. Emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in, keeping your skin moisturized.
Some rice extract may have mildly-exfoliating properties. These are mainly limited to Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran and Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Powder.
This rice was first cultivated in China over 10,000 years ago. Many cultures throughout Asia have used rice water on skin and hair for centuries.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa ExtractWater. 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