What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water
TonicWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Allantoin, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, C12-14 Pareth-12, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Oil
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSoluble Collagen
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Laurate
CleansingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingCopaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningElastin
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
CleansingGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientTocopheryl Linoleate
AntioxidantCholesterol
EmollientInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingTetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Panthenol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Beeswax, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Asiatic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Oil, Xanthan Gum, Soluble Collagen, Adenosine, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Laurate, Carnosine, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Ceramide NP, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Phospholipids, Elastin, Lauric Acid, Glycoproteins, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Isostearyl Isostearate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Cholesterol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tromethamine, Tetrahydropiperine, Tocopherol
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 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 AcidWater. 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