What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNylon-12
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Parfum
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaponins
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCarnosine
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningThymol Trimethoxycinnamate
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Retinol
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPEG-75
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningPearl Powder
Sodium Polyphosphate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Maltodextrin, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Mannitol, Trehalose, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Parfum, Glycine Soja Oil, Xanthan Gum, Saponins, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carnosine, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Thymol Trimethoxycinnamate, CI 77891, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Retinol, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-75, Phospholipids, Mica, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, BHT, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Papain, Pearl Powder, Sodium Polyphosphate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCellulose
AbsorbentAcrylates Copolymer
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Powder
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingPolyquaternium-10
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantMadecassoside
AntioxidantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingGlycine Max Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantCanola Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Cellulose, Acrylates Copolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Tromethamine, Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Powder, Limonene, Polyquaternium-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Geraniol, Hyaluronic Acid, Madecassoside, Gluconolactone, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Glycine Max Oil, Propanediol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, 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.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
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLactobacillus Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic with skin soothing properties. Postbiotics are inactive molecules produced by probiotic bacteria that provide skin benefits.
This ingredient comes from the secretion of the bacteria, Lactobacillus.
Studies show this ingredient can help calm redness and may help treat the signs of photoaging; however, the evidence is inconclusive and further studies are needed.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus Ferment LysateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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