What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ascorbic Acid, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventTriethylhexanoin
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vinyldimethicone
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Glucose
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Methylpropanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Niacinamide, Arachidyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Vinyldimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructan, Ceramide NP, Adenosine, Gluconolactone, Disodium EDTA, Glucose, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cholesterol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dipeptide-2, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated 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.
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
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Glucoside is made from glycerol and glucose.
It is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture to it from the air.
Some foods that contain glyceryl glucoside include sake, miso, and wines.
Learn more about Glyceryl GlucosideHyaluronic 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 AcidSodium 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
