What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
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 ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientCholeth-24
EmulsifyingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientLactobionic Acid
BufferingMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Choleth-24, Triethylhexanoin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bacillus Ferment, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lactobionic Acid, Milk Protein
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 LecithinSodium 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