What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSalicylic Acid
MaskingChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantGlycolic Acid
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
AntioxidantZinc PCA
HumectantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentBetaine
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Fructan, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Zinc PCA, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Potassium Hydroxide, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTapioca Starch
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCetyl Stearate
EmollientCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Isostearyl Isostearate, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Cetyl Stearate, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Stearic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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
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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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