What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingRaffinose
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningAlpinia Galanga Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSucrose Laurate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingPhloretin
AntioxidantTetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantOleyl Alcohol
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Citric Acid, Raffinose, Adenosine, Lecithin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyquaternium-51, Malachite Extract, Arginine, Sodium Dna, Alpinia Galanga Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose Laurate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glycine, Serine, Histidine, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Lysolecithin, Phloretin, Tetrahydropiperine, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Oleyl Alcohol, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Methylpropanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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