What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Honey Extract
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Propolis Extract, Carbomer, Arginine, Royal Jelly Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Honey Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol
Caviar Extract 40%
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingTrehalose
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantColloidal Gold
AntimicrobialMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Caviar Extract 40%, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Beta-Glucan, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Trehalose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Yeast Extract, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Vinyldimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Phytate, Adenosine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Gold, Colloidal Gold, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum
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 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipropylene 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
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
