What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Royal Jelly
Mel Extract
MoisturisingCera Alba
Emollient
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningAnigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningZymomonas Ferment Extract
HumectantCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Commiphora Myrrha Gum Oil
Perfuming
Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCitronellyl Methylcrotonate
Masking
C9-12 Alkane
SolventSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Sorbitol, Triheptanoin, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly, Mel Extract, Cera Alba, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Zymomonas Ferment Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Maltodextrin, Commiphora Myrrha Gum Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Bacillus Ferment, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lecithin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Tocopherol, Lauroyl Lysine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, C9-12 Alkane, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Honey
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Versicolor Extract
EmollientPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xylitol
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantLactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Propolis Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Honey, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Allantoin, Panthenol, Inulin, Anhydroxylitol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xylitol, Fructose, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneThis ingredient is used in skincare as a delivery system.
It works by "encapsulating" active ingredients with its unique ring shape that is water-loving on the outside and oil-loving on the inside. This improves the stability and absorption of the product into the skin.
According to a manufacturer, it also offer some moisturizing effects.
Learn more about Hydroxypropyl CyclodextrinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolPropolis Extract is a natural ingredient derived from propolis (also known as bee glue). Bees make propolis by mixing their saliva and beeswax with resins collected from tree buds and plants.
This ingredient is packed with bioactive compounds like flavonoids, phenolic acids, and amino acids that give it antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Research shows it can help:
It also pairs nicely with hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides.
Just so you know, Propolis Extract is recognized as a contact allergen. In patch tests done in the EU, roughly 1-6% of patients react to it. Be sure to steer clear of this ingredient if you have a known allergy to bee products.
Since it is an animal-derived product, this ingredient is not considered vegan. For vegan alternatives, check out Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract.
Learn more about Propolis ExtractRosa Canina Fruit Extract is from Rosehip. Rosehips are a fruit from a wild rose bush native to Eurasia and Africa.
Rosehip contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E, fatty acids and linolenic acids that hydrate skin. Having hydrated skin helps reduce the appearance of fine-lines and wrinkles.
Vitamins C and E are potent antioxidants and may help with anti-aging. The fatty acids are emollients that help soften and hydrate your skin.
Another potent vitamin found in rosehip is Vitamin A, or retinol. Retinol encourages collagen production in the skin.
Rosehip extract may help with brightening the skin. Several components, such as beta-carotene, are able to reduce pigmentation caused by sun damage.
Learn more about Rosa Canina Fruit ExtractWater. 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
