What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantC13-15 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Glycine
BufferingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingValine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingNephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Dna, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ectoin, Ceramide NP, Glutathione, Glycine, Carnosine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Betaine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Trehalose, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Nephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Beta-Glucan, Cyclodextrin
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventEctoin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantBetaine
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-40
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantWater, Panthenol, Squalane, Propanediol, Ectoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Betaine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Sodium Dna, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trehalose, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
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. Itâs 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 BetaineEctoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.
This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells.
When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more.
Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare:
A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light.
Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution.
In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with:
Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient.
Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient.
The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid.
Learn more about EctoinGlyceryl Glucoside is made from glycerol and glucose.
It is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture to it from the air.
Some foods that contain glyceryl glucoside include sake, miso, and wines.
Learn more about Glyceryl GlucosidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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 DNA is an emerging anti-aging ingredient.
It is created by taking deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and purifying it with sodium hydroxide.
The DNA is extracted from several different animal sources, including: calf thymus, the gonadic tissue of a male sturgeon, or herring / salmon sperm.
You have probably seen this ingredient in anti-aging skincare. But what is it?
DNA is composed of nucleotides, or chemical building blocks. Nucleotides include adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Talk about a flashback to biology! Nucleosides are formed from these nucleotides.
The science behind Sodium DNA is based on an ingredient called Polydeoxyribonucleotide or PDRN.
PDRN are DNA fragments mainly extracted from the sperm cells of trout or salmon. Meaning, PDRN can be derived from Sodium DNA.
PDRN consists of chains of nucleotides and nucleosides mentioned above. They can range anywhere from 80 - 2000 pairs.
Studies show PDRN has the following properties:
Most of the research on PDRN has been done using injectable forms. Thatâs important, because PDRN is a large molecule and doesnât absorb well through the skin. So if youâre applying it topically, the effects are likely to be much milder.
Still, topical Sodium DNA is emerging as a trendy anti-aging ingredient. Itâs generally well-tolerated and offers good biocompatibility with human skin, making it a low-risk addition to most routines.
Further studies are needed to truly confirm this ingredients anti-aging ability (Remember, retinol has decades of research!).
Sodium DNA may be sourced from fish, animal tissue, or plants. Since this isnât always disclosed, we recommend asking the brand directly if the ingredientâs origin is important to you.
Learn more about Sodium DnaSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, itâs technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term âoil-freeâ isnât regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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