What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Domestica Seedcake Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialGlucose
Humectant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Betaine, C12-14 Alketh-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trehalose, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Xylitol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Citrate, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Seedcake Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Glucose, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Sitosterol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Phytosterols, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Natto Gum
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Glycerophosphate
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Potassium Magnesium Aspartate
BufferingAspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Cholesterol
Emollient
Histidine
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Creatine
Skin ConditioningUric Acid
BufferingCysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Natto Gum, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, PCA, Lactic Acid, Glucose, Glycine, Urea, Sodium Glycerophosphate, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Potassium Magnesium Aspartate, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Sodium Chloride, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Citric Acid, Cholesterol, Histidine, Silica, Acetyl Glucosamine, Creatine, Uric Acid, Cysteine, Methionine
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
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
