What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventChondrus Crispus
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Propanediol, Chondrus Crispus, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycoproteins, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantIsopentyldiol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlutathione
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningProtease
ExfoliatingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantArbutin
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantWater, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Isopentyldiol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Carbomer, Allantoin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glutathione, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Polyglutamic Acid, Protease, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Arbutin, Bisabolol, Hyaluronic Acid
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
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinHyaluronic 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 AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseWater. 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