What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantErythritol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantUrea
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Hydrolyzed Algae Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHexyldecanol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater, Panthenol, PEG-8, Erythritol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Urea, Trehalose, PCA, Sodium PCA, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Lactic Acid, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Octyldodecanol, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Bioflavonoids, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose Stearate, Phytosphingosine, Hexyldecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Tromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningC18-21 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantPhaseolus Radiatus Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydroxycinnamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantRutin
AntioxidantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isododecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C12-14 Alketh-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Coptis Japonica Extract, Allantoin, C18-21 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Rutin, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic 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 AcidWater. 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