What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantBetaine
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPsidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentMadecassoside
AntioxidantSasa Quelpaertensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantTaraxacum Officinale Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Asiatic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Taraxacum Officinale Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Sodium Dna
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveCrataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalmon Egg Extract
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Glucoside, Benzyl Glycol, C12-13 Pareth-9, Arginine, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glutathione, Sodium Dna, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Crataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Salmon Egg Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Soluble Proteoglycan, Cyanocobalamin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed 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 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