What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningErythritol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSucrose Distearate
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Kernel Extract
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantFructan
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantGardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingOsmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Erythritol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Squalane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sucrose Distearate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Acetyl Glutamine, Trideceth-10, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructan, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Glucose, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Cellulose Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, 2,3-Butanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Malachite Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
Butylene 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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed 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 AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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