What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sebacic Acid
Buffering10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningViola Yedoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCeramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
MaskingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning1,10-Decanediol
SolventMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Taraxacum Mongolicum Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Sea Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Ectoin, Ceramide NP, Sebacic Acid, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Panthenol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Viola Yedoensis Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Hydroxyacetophenone, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, 1,10-Decanediol, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Taraxacum Mongolicum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ectoin, Panthenol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Fructooligosaccharides, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lactobacillus, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
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 GlycolEctoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.
This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells.
When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more.
Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare:
A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light.
Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution.
In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with:
Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient.
Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient.
The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid.
Learn more about EctoinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
