This hydrating serum is formulated around Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This acne ampoule is formulated around Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil to clear breakouts and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPteris Multifida Extract
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Fructooligosaccharides, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-51, Tromethamine, Tocopherol
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventMethylpropanediol
SolventMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningDextrin
Absorbent4-Terpineol
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Water, Dextrin, 4-Terpineol, Lactobacillus Ferment, 1,2-Hexanediol, 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.
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
Disodium 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract is from the Neem tree. Neem trees originate from India.
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
The flowers of this tree are lilac colored.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Flower ExtractThis ingredient is also known as neem leaf extract. It contains natural compounds like nimbidin, quercetin, and other polyphenols that give it antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity.
Lab studies have shown neem leaf extract can inhibit acne-related bacteria and help calm skin. Animal studies on wound gels using 1-3% neem leaf extract found it sped up healing without causing irritation.
A wound-healing study testing gels with the extract at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations and found none of them irritated the skin.
Most commercial products also use it in a similar low range (typically under 5%).
Allergy-wise, there are some case reports on neem oil causing allergic contact dermatitis so people with plant/botanical sensitivities may want to patch test first.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Leaf ExtractMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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