What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventArginine
MaskingGlycolic Acid
BufferingCorn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-5
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCollagen
MoisturisingSilk Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Arginine, Glycolic Acid, Corn Gluten Amino Acids, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-5, Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Silk Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Polyglutamate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide 5%
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantCorn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-5
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCollagen
MoisturisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPicrorhiza Kurrooa Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide 5%, Butylene Glycol, Corn Gluten Amino Acids, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-5, Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Picrorhiza Kurrooa Rhizome/Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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-GlucanButylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCollagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. It is an effective skin moisturizer.
There is no conclusive proof that collagen is used by skin when applied topically. However, it is a great humectant that hydrates skin. Hydrated skin is associated with increased elasticity and a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles. It is also essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
Biologically, collagen is responsible for keeping skin firm and youthful. Collagen is comprised mostly of glycine, proline, and hydroxypoline. These are amino acids.
Collagen will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
Learn more about hydrolyzed collagen here.
Learn more about CollagenWe don't have a description for Corn Gluten Amino Acids yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolHyaluronic 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 AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneThis synthetic peptide consists of glycine, histidine, and lysine. Peptides have skin conditioning properties.
This name refers to a group of Oligopeptide-1 derivatives, such as the famous Sh-Oligopeptide-1.
Oligopeptide-5 is a peptide.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Β
Itβs 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum