What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Betaine
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingXylose
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCholesterol
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantGlycine
BufferingCysteine
AntioxidantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glutathione, Betaine, Tromethamine, Gluconolactone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Citric Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xylose, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Cholesterol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycine, Cysteine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingCholeth-24
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Betaine, Panthenol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Xanthan Gum, Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodeceth-16, Choleth-24, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol
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
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 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
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.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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