What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningRh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract, Glycerin, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Rh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Arginine, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientSqualane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
HumectantCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCholesterol
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMyristic Acid
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Mannitol, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Palmitic Acid, Silica, Zinc Chloride, Cholesterol, Beta-Glucan, Sphingolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Myristic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, 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
Beta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 GlycerinSodium 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 Hyaluronate