What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Trehalose
Humectant
Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Sodium Dodoxynol-40 Sulfate
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Styrene/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Gluconolactone, Water, Sodium Lactate, Trehalose, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Sodium Dodoxynol-40 Sulfate, Sorbic Acid, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Textilis Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Bambusa Textilis Stem Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Asiaticoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phytosphingosine, Citric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tocopherol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ceramide AP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Phosphoric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Asiatic Acid, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceramide EOP
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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
