What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Panthenol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantBetaine
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantXylitol
HumectantVitis Vinifera Juice Extract
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Citronellol, Hyaluronic Acid, Xylitol, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Propanediol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
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 BetaineCentella 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 ExtractHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPentylene 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 GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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