This calming serum is formulated around Ceramide AP and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This hydrating essence is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Madecassic Acid to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingMalic Acid
Buffering
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Panthenol, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Tromethamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Malic Acid
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Textilis Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Bambusa Textilis Stem Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Asiaticoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phytosphingosine, Citric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tocopherol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ceramide AP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Phosphoric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Asiatic Acid, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceramide EOP
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.
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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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
