What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sea Water
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Acer Rubrum Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carica Papaya Leaf Extract
TonicCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningOat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sea Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Betaine, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Carica Papaya Fruit, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Malachite Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Acer Rubrum Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carica Papaya Leaf Extract, Copper Gluconate, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Wheat Amino Acids, Oat Amino Acids, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentProtease
Exfoliating
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Dextrin, Propanediol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclodextrin, Protease, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 BetaineButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
