What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
AstringentC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantZinc PCA
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBarosma Betulina Leaf Extract
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, C12-13 Pareth-9, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Zinc PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Gluconate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcorus Calamus Root Extract
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAlthaea Rosea Root Extract
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Salicylic Acid, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Arginine, Allantoin, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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