What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 74260
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantSalicylic Acid
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Propylene Glycol, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Dimethiconol, Allantoin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, CI 19140, CI 74260, CI 77266, CI 16255, Salicylic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXylitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glucose, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Sucrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Betaine, Squalane, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Xylitol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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
