What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glutathione
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Glycine
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carnitine
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glutathione, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Cysteine, Glycine, Tocopherol, Betaine, Panthenol, Carnitine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Xanthan Gum
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 BetaineButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as Levocarnitine or L-Carnitine. It is an amino acid derivative naturally found in our bodies.
Biologically, carnitine plays a key role in cellular energy production. It transports fatty acids into the mitochondria (say it with me, "the powerhouse of the cell") where they are converted into cellular fuel.
In skincare, this process helps regulate sebum production. One study found topical L-carnitine can help reduce excess oil and improve skin oil balance. This makes it a great addition for oily or acne-prone skin.
Besides oil control, carnitine supports healthy skin metabolism by boosting lipid breakdown. Research has shown it can improve skin’s resilience against aging and external stressors like UV exposure.
There are no downsides to using this ingredient and it is a great multifunctional ingredient for both sebum regulation and anti-aging care.
Learn more about CarnitineEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 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
