What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Maltitol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPEG-8 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Lipids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSea Water
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Pulp Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Serine
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentAlgin
MaskingPullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingMaltitol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Betaine, Diglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-8 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexanediol, Parfum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Ceramide NP, Oryza Sativa Lipids, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sea Water, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Trehalose, Urea, Ethyl Hexanediol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Serine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Algin, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
Masking4-Terpineol
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
MaskingSerine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantAlanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
AstringentWater, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Betaine, Trehalose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arginine, Octyldodeceth-16, Xanthan Gum, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, 4-Terpineol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Serine, Histidine, Alanine, Threonine, Proline, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AllantoinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s 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 BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSerine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
Learn more about SerineTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum