What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCorn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingChrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Corn Gluten Amino Acids, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactic Acid, Arginine, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Corn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Euglena Gracilis Polysaccharide
Gel FormingGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Corn Gluten Amino Acids, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Morus Alba Root Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Silk Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Euglena Gracilis Polysaccharide, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Propanediol, Beta-Glucan, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Corn Gluten Amino Acids yet.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the βgoodβ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycolOpuntia Ficus-Indica Extract comes from the cactus known as Prickly Pear. Prickly Pear extract has soothing and antioxidant properties.
The flavonoids in prickly pear help reduce inflammation. Prickly pear is also rich in polyphenols, a potent antioxidant.
This extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.
Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.
Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.
Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.
Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea ExtractPropanediol 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 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
