What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantSucrose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXylitol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glucose, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Sucrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Betaine, Squalane, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Xylitol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantDimethicone
EmollientArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
BufferingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningApium Graveolens Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Rapa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAcetyl Methionine
Skin ConditioningTheanine
EmollientProline
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientArachidic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlgin
MaskingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Microcrystalline Wax, Betaine, Sorbitan Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Arginine, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Citric Acid, Beta-Glucan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-51, Apium Graveolens Extract, Brassica Rapa Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lysine Hcl, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Proline, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Algin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Natto Gum, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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