What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Broussonetia Kazinoki Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin
AbsorbentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Broussonetia Kazinoki Callus Culture Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Ceramide NP, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Arginine, Caramel, Dextrin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Agar
MaskingBetaine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carrageenan
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Chloride
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Glycereth-26, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Centella Asiatica Extract, Adenosine, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Agar, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carrageenan, Cellulose Gum, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Citric Acid, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Cyclodextrin, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tocopherol, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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
