What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDiethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDiglycerin
HumectantPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPropylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingThuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Sorbitol, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Diglycerin, Potassium Cocoate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPotassium Benzoate
PreservativePolyquaternium-67
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveCoptis Chinensis Root Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cocoate, Potassium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-67, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract
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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractCitric 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 AcidDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is the potassium salt of coconut acid. Coconut acid is created by mixing fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is an emulsifier, surfactant, and cleanser. According to a manufacturer, it contains glycerin.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateThis ingredient is extracted from the seeds of the cocoa tree.
Cacao seeds contain antioxidants known as polyphenols. These include flavonoids, procyanidins, and epicatechins.
Studies show these polyphenols help improve skin health.
The more famous ingredient from cocoa tree is cocoa butter.
Learn more about Theobroma Cacao ExtractWater. 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