What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylheptyl Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearates
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Palmitate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Carnosine, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phytosterols, Allantoin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycereth-26, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearates, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Madecassoside, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Phosphate, Isoamyl Laurate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Vinyldimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Carbomer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Malachite Extract, Arginine, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Honey Extract
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Water, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Glycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Honey Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Dextrin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root 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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer is made up of glycerin and polyacrylic acid. It helps hydrate your skin as a humectant.
This ingredient forms a hydrogel that delivers moisturizing, water-based ingredients to the skin. It is also used to thicken a product and to give it a smooth texture.
Acrylic acid itself is toxic, but the polymer form (this ingredient) is too large to penetrate skin, making it non-toxic.
Learn more about Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid CopolymerHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydeceneHydrolyzed 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 AcidSodium 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
