What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingGelatin
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Agar
MaskingCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Zinc PCA, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, C12-14 Pareth-12, Gelatin, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol, Agar, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Cellulose Gum, Carbomer, Ubiquinone, Xanthan Gum, Xanthophylls, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
Betaine 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 BetaineCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHyaluronic 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 AcidTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
