What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
C12-14 Pareth-12
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingGlutathione
Dipeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Undatum Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoral Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantOpuntia Humifusa Flower/Stem Extract
AstringentDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Glucoside, C12-14 Pareth-12, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Erythritol, Xylitol, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Menthyl Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glucose, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Glutathione, Dipeptide-15, Solanum Undatum Fruit Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coral Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Opuntia Humifusa Flower/Stem Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMyrica Gale Leaf Water
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Water, 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.
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 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 GlucosideSodium 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
