What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citrus Junos Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacin
SmoothingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCarnitine Hcl
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingKaempferia Galanga Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Tocopherol, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Folic Acid, Carnitine Hcl, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Disodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAluminum Sucrose Octasulfate
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientCellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Trehalose, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Carbomer, Allantoin, Betaine, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Madecassoside, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phosphate, Saccharide Isomerate, Phosphatidylcholine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Aluminum Sucrose Octasulfate, Algae Extract, Cellulose, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Caprylyl Glycol
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
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 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed 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 AcidHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate is a positively charged version of hyaluronic acid.
This small change does a lot in a formula:
Regular hyaluronic acid carries a negative charge and so does the surface of your skin. This means the two repel each other and hyaluronic acid can be washed away easily. The positive charge here does the opposite: it makes the ingredient cling to your skin (also called "substantivity") so it keeps hydrating even in rinse-off products where it lays down a light, moisture-holding film.
The research backs this up too; a 2025 clinical study on a shower gel containing 0.1% positively charged hyaluronic acid increased skin hydration by 6.6% versus the baseline and 11.1% versus the placebo. This was measured 6 hours after 1 minute of contact and rinse, and on volunteers with very dry skin.
The same team's lab work showed it adhered to skin far better than unmodified hyaluronic acid (+107% vs. low molecular weight, +23% versus high molecular weight). They also found it increased two proteins tied to skin hydration, aquaporin-3 by 16% and filaggrin by 35%.
A separate 2024 study reached a similar conclusion and credited the hydrating benefits to its film-forming properties.
Both studies used the ingredient at 0.1% which also matches how much it usually shows up in products (at fractions of a percent).
One honesty note worth keeping in mind: the published research comes from the company that manufactures the ingredient so independent data would strengthen the picture. However, the results are consistent and the mechanism makes sense.
As a Hyaluronic Acid derivative, it has a well-tolerated profile and suits most skin types.
Learn more about Hydroxypropyltrimonium HyaluronatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolSaccharide Isomerate comes from sugars found in corn. It is a skin hydrator.
The structure of this ingredient can be altered to be more similar to the carbohydrates found in our skin. This ability to mimic our skin gives it hydrating properties.
Specifically, saccharide Isomerate is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air to our skin.
Research shows Saccharide Isomerate to be an effective moisturizer.
Learn more about Saccharide IsomerateSodium 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
