What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Maris Aqua
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Emollient4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Glucose
Humectant
Water, Methylpropanediol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propylene Glycol, Maris Aqua, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Ubiquinone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Ectoin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dimethiconol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glucose
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingMaris Aqua
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEmiliania Huxleyi Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Maris Aqua, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Panthenol, Propanediol, Madecassoside, Acetyl Glutamine, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Emiliania Huxleyi Extract, 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.
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
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer made from ammonium salts. It works as a thickener, emulsifier, and texture enhancer that gives gel-creams a silky, lightweight feel.
This ingredient is versatile and low-maintenance so manufacturers love working with it.
Typical usage levels in cosmetics are usually low and in the range of 0.015 - 2.3%.
Learn more about Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateMaris Aqua is the INCI name for plain old sea water that is filtered and then dropped into a formula.
The name technically covers two slightly different things:
1) Actual sea water pulled from a particular depth and filtered down
2) "Marine spring water" which are fresh-water springs that resurface in the sea
Either way, you're getting water + a cocktail of minerals and trace elements (like magnesium, calcium, potassium sodium, etc).
Officially, COSIng recognizes this ingredient as a humectant that holds and retains moisture, and solvent that helps dissolve other ingredients.
The claims about this ingredient come from its minerals. A 2025 systematic review found that seawater-based therapy showed moderate effectiveness at reducing atopic dermatitis severity and improving skin barrier function.
It also showed favorable safety profile and very minimal adverse effects.
The underlying studies pointed to improvements in stratum corneum hydration, lower transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and a healthier microbial balance.
Much of this benefit is actually attributed to magnesium: a 2005 study found that bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead sea salt solution improved skin barrier function, boosted hydration, and reduced inflammation in atopic dry skin.
It's worth nothing most of this evidence comes from bathing/soaking protocols and mineral-rich waters like the Dead Sea (not necessarily a few drops on an ingredient list).
Overall, this is a gentle, well-tolerated, water-phase ingredient that can offer light hydration and a little mineral boost.
The only caveat is that very high salt concentrations can be drying for already-dry skin.
Learn more about Maris AquaPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
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
