What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Concinna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAhnfeltia Concinna Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Alternatives
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
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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