What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHouttuynia Cordata Extract, Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Biotin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Xanthan Gum, Pyridoxine Hcl, Sodium Hydroxide
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantFructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Ceramide NP, Sucrose, Fructose, Glucose, Polyglutamic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Trehalose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Adenosine, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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-GlucanBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s 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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPGlycerin (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 GlycerinScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract comes from the Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap plant. This plant is native to Northeast Asia and can be found in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.
In cosmetics, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is due to the flavonoid composition of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract.
In Chinese traditional folk medicine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is used to help treat lung issues and hypertension.
Learn more about Scutellaria Baicalensis Root ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCA