What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Madecassoside, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Coptis Japonica Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Betaine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Honey
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Ethyl Linalool
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sclerotium Gum, Betaine, Hyaluronic Acid, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Tromethamine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment, Honey, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Ethyl Linalool, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Disodium EDTA, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, CI 61565
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
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 BetaineCarbomer 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 CarbomerCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
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 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
