What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Flower Extract
AntioxidantLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantEctoin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose Gum, Propanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglutamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Benzyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Magnolia Kobus Flower Extract, Lysine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Methionine, Cysteine, Ectoin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Glycolipids, Phytosterols, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Hexapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Collagen Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
HumectantAcrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Mannitol, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
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
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 AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide 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 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 AcidLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. This oil is non-fragrant and is an emollient. As an emollient, meadowfoam seed oil helps soften and hydrate the skin.
Meadowfoam seed oil is stable and has a long shelf life due to its chemical structure. It has the highest concentration of stable fatty-acids among plant oils, preventing it from degrading once exposed to oxygen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Meadowfoam is native to California and Oregon.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilPropanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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