What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Melia 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 Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Glucose
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycereth-26, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ascorbic Acid, 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, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Water, Silica, Glucose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Maris Aqua
HumectantXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phormidium Persicinum Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C14-22 Alcohols, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycereth-26, Triacontanyl Pvp, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Caprylate, Steareth-21, Tocopheryl Acetate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ectoin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maris Aqua, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phormidium Persicinum Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Pancratium Maritimum 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.
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 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
