What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCutibacterium Granulosum Ferment Extract Filtrate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycereth-26, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Betaine, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Cutibacterium Granulosum Ferment Extract Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Succinic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Madecassoside, Acetyl Glucosamine, Tocopherol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bisabolol, Beta-Glucan, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMyrica Gale Leaf Water
AstringentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Carbomer, Myrica Gale Leaf Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, C12-14 Alketh-12, Glucose, Parfum
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 BetaineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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 WaterWe don't have a description for C12-14 Alketh-12 yet.