Water. 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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Glycerin

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Propanediol

Solvent

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

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 Propanediol

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Beta-Glucan

Skin Conditioning

Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.

As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.

Learn more about Beta-Glucan

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Bleaching, Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Glycyrrhiza 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 Extract

Butylene Glycol

Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.

Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer

Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer

When to use

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer 35 ingredients

Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer 35 ingredients

209 Routines

57% use in am

43% use in pm

96% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

366 Routines

60% use in am

40% use in pm

93% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer 35 ingredients

3.9 /5

from 9 ratings

Absorbs Well (4) Hydrating (4) Works Well (4)

Brody9304

1 year ago

Review

This moisturizer has a gel consistency with that applies with a ”glass” like finish true to the product name. This product contains pro- and pre-biotics which can be great for helping support an healthy skin microbiome. Overall the moisturizing ingredients lean heavily towards humectants, containing three different hyaluronic acid derivatives. Personally I found this to be way too irritating for Show more

#expensive

#hydrating

#sticky

Peach & Lily

Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer

Daniel Chin

7 months ago

Review

Really gorgeous product with fantastic ingredients in. It’s lasted a couple of months use, once a day in the morning. So, would probably only last a month if used twice a day. I found it suitably moisturising for my combo skin during UK summer. Other gel moisturisers sometimes need another layer, but I felt this one only needed one. Expensive though, as all of Peach & Lily’s products are. But! My Show more

#expensive

#hydrating

#light

#absorbs well

Peach & Lily

Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer

Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer 35 ingredients

2.7 /5

from 10 ratings

Sticky (3) Light Scent (3) Oily (2)

sayumi

2 years ago

Review

really basic for the price
okay gel moisturizer nothing special to it i prefer the cosrx snail mucin cream if you are looking for a gel cream

Glow Recipe

Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer

BubbIes

1 year ago

Review

The packaging/aesthetic is really it's only positive. This made my skin so greasy and dull. It also broke me out a lot. Don't recommend this product or brand. it's very gimmick-y.

#broke me out

#sticky

#oily

#strong scent

Glow Recipe

Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer