What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingXylitylglucoside
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
AntioxidantXylitol
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVincetoxicum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantOctanediol
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantC12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Malachite Extract, Xylitol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Anhydroxylitol, Allantoin, Sodium Dna, Dipropylene Glycol, Octanediol, Phosphatidylcholine, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, C12-13 Alketh-9, Dipotassium Phosphate, Acetyl Glutamine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Cellulose Gum, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantUrea
BufferingHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Propanediol
SolventPolygonum Hydropiper Extract
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Urea, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Sodium PCA, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Allantoin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Polyquaternium-51, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Bisabolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Polygonum Hydropiper Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidHydroxyacetophenone 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s 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 PropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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