What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventMica
Cosmetic ColorantBetaine
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Alginate
MaskingAgar
MaskingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Disodium EDTA
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningLaureth-9
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
PPG-30 Cetyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Mica, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Alginate, Agar, Allantoin, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Laureth-9, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, PPG-30 Cetyl Ether, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1, CI 77491, CI 77891
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Yucca Schidigera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingCocos Nucifera Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glycosyl Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Caprylyl Glycol, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactococcus Ferment, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronatePentylene 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 Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
