What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-5 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingWater, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethyl Sulfone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lecithin, Madecassoside, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-5 Polyricinoleate, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Glycoproteins, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Citric Acid
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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
