What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
CI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Diglycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Powder
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Protease
Exfoliating
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Oryza Sativa Seed Protein
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch, CI 77004, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Diglycerin, Allantoin, Water, Maltodextrin, Papain, Oryza Sativa Powder, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Glucose, Oryza Sativa Extract, Protease, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Tartaric Acid, Lactic Acid, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylyl Glycol
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pollen Extract
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Allantoin, Betaine, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Papain, Disodium EDTA, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Pollen Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite
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 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric 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 MaltodextrinPapain is a proteolytic enzyme extracted from unripe papaya fruit. It is a gentle exfoliator that helps remove the dead skin cells from your outermost layer of skin.
Basically, papain works by dissolving the "glue" holding dead skin cells to your skin's surface. This also promotes cell turnover and smooths texture.
Unlike other exfoliants, papain can work without causing significant irritation.
Beyond exfoliation, its proteolytic action also helps soothe irritated skin and supports the healing of minor wounds.
A 2024 in vivo/in vitro study confirmed its potential to suppress skin inflammation and improve transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in atopic dermatitis models.
Just one thing worth noting: there are reports of allergic responses in individuals with a papaya or latex sensitivity. Be sure to patch test if you're in this camp.
Learn more about PapainSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium Lauroyl Glutamate is the sodium salt from the lauric acid of glutamic acid.
It is a surfactant and helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants from your skin so they may be washed away easily.
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!
Learn more about WaterZea Mays Starch is starch made from corn. You might know this as cornstarch . It is used to thicken a product. It can replace talc as an absorbent.
The pH of cornstarch is 5.92.
Cornstarch is a common food ingredient used to thicken soups or to make corn syrup.
Learn more about Zea Mays Starch
