What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Maris Aqua
HumectantCollagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentPterocarpus Marsupium Bark/Wood Extract
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phytic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Propanediol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Maris Aqua, Collagen Amino Acids, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Niacinamide, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus Ferment, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Inulin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract, Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark/Wood Extract, Sodium PCA, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Urea, Lysolecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientDiglycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Opunta Dillenii Extract
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Diglycerin, Squalane, Opunta Dillenii Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Geraniol, Linalool
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 GlycolHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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
