What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium
Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCreatine
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDiglycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Methylpropanediol, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Squalane, Creatine, Sodium Polyacrylate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Diglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dna, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingSea Water
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Allantoin, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Polyglutamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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 Leaf Extract comes from the leaves of an herb plant native to Southeast Asia. Centella Asiatica is rich in antioxidants and amino acids. It can help reduce irritation and soothe the skin.
Many active components found in centella asiatica, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside, encourage the skin to naturally produce hyaluronic acid. This helps keep our skin hydrated. Many of these components also show antioxidant activity and may help reduce the signs of aging.
Research shows centella asiatica can help increase Type I collagen production by increasing fibroblast production. Fibroblast helps form connective tissue.
The combination of all these properties makes centella asiatica leaf extract effective at soothing the skin.
Other components of centella asiatica leaf extract include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Recent studies found madecassoside may help prevent damage from UV rays by preventing UV-induced inflammation. Further research is needed.
This plant 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 Leaf ExtractDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polyglutamic Acid is made up many glutamic acids chained together. It is created from bacterial fermentation.
This ingredient is an effective skin hydrator and may help speed up wound healing. As a humectant, it draws and holds water to the skin. This ingredient is often compared to hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Similarly to hyaluronic acid, it can vary in molecular weights. This means polyglutamic acid is capable of bringing hydration to lower levels of the skin.
Fun fact: Polyglutamic Acid is found in the Japanese food, natto. It is also being used in cancer treatment studies.
Learn more about Polyglutamic AcidSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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