What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Lactiflora Bark/Sap Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Ardisia Crispa Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Coreanus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Meristem Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arginine, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Bark/Sap Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Ardisia Crispa Extract, Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Meristem Cell Culture Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingDisodium EDTA
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Gluconic Acid
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDenatonium Benzoate
Masking
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingLippia Citriodora Leaf Extract
Astringent
Bellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Disodium EDTA, Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Glycolic Acid, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Mandelic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Denatonium Benzoate, Lactobionic Acid, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
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
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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
