What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-59
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Withania Somnifera Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Tenuiflorum Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pentapeptide-59, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Withania Somnifera Extract, Ocimum Tenuiflorum Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingLactic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingLentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Lactic Acid, Gluconolactone, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Xylitol, Inositol, Sodium PCA, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itâs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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
