Skin science article
The INKEY List Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex Serum Versus MediCube One Day Zero Exosome Shot
The INKEY List Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex Serum Versus MediCube One Day Zero Exosome Shot This hydrating serum is formulated around Ectoin and Ubiquinone to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This pore-care ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide t
The INKEY List Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex Serum Versus MediCube One Day Zero Exosome Shot
This hydrating serum is formulated around Ectoin and Ubiquinone to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This pore-care ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Dipropylene Glycol
Glycerin
Propanediol
Coconut Alkanes
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone
Ectoin
Phenoxyethanol
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Allantoin
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Butylene Glycol
Lecithin
Ubiquinone
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Sodium Phytate
Pentylene Glycol
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Dextran
Tripeptide-1
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone, Ectoin, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Ubiquinone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Dextran, Tripeptide-1
1,2-Hexanediol
Niacinamide
Sodium Polyacrylate
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Hydrolyzed Sponge
C12-14 Alketh-12
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Adenosine
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Calcium Silicate
Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles
Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Sodium Silicate
Betaine Salicylate
Citric Acid
Gluconolactone
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Sponge, C12-14 Alketh-12, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Calcium Silicate, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Sodium Silicate, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Dipropylene 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.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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.
Glycerin (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.
Water. 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!