What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Juglans Regia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Honey
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Soybean Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Juglans Regia Seed Extract, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Parfum, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Limonene, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Honey, Madecassoside, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Linalool, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Citronellol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Soybean Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Inositol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glyceryl Glucoside, Trehalose, Betaine, Erythritol, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Beta-Glucan, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itās known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
