What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentInositol
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantUndecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantYeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Croton Lechleri Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantCellulose
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingInulin
Skin ConditioningYeast Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingLecithin
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingArtemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningZizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Taraktogenos Kurzii Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientLeptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
TonicPotassium Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids
CleansingPalm Glycerides
EmollientCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingMagnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Polysorbate 20, Propanediol, Sclerotium Gum, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Croton Lechleri Resin Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mannitol, Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Inulin, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment, Saccharide Isomerate, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Lecithin, Glycerin, Alcohol, Morus Alba Root Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Taraktogenos Kurzii Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Potassium Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids, Palm Glycerides, Capryloyl Glycine, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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