What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Agar
MaskingCalcium Alginate
MaskingGellan Gum
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Perfluorodecalin
Skin Conditioning4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientSucrose Palmitate
EmollientZinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Betaine, Methylpropanediol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzophenone-4, Agar, Calcium Alginate, Gellan Gum, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Mica, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Acetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Mannitol, Arginine, Perfluorodecalin, 4-Butylresorcinol, Dextrin, Diatomaceous Earth, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lecithin, Glycosphingolipids, Sucrose Palmitate, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantZinc PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Inositol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Betaine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Bakuchiol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Inositol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
