What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-10
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyacetophenone, Oryza Sativa, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Inulin, Polyquaternium-10, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin
Citrus Junos Fruit Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Glycine Soja Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Aestivum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlisma Orientale Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingSmilax Glabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Stellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Junos Fruit Water, Water, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Glycine Soja Peptide, Avena Sativa Peptide, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Triticum Aestivum Peptide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactococcus Ferment, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Alisma Orientale Tuber Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Smilax Glabra Root Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Glycoproteins, Maltodextrin, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-51, Propanediol, Cyanocobalamin, Sorbitan Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenonePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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
