What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSaposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract
AntimicrobialCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Salicylate
Preservative
Gastrodia Elata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Quaternium-73
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Cellulose, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lactobionic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Aminomethyl Propanol, Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isohexadecane, Sodium Salicylate, Gastrodia Elata Root Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Glycolic Acid, Quaternium-73, 1,2-Hexanediol, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilk Amino Acids
HumectantGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Menthol
Masking
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
PEG-35 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingHibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract
Masking
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Nonoxynol-14
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Maltodextrin, Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Menthol, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Menthyl Lactate, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Nonoxynol-14, Propylene Glycol, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilSodium 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
