What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methyl Trimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Ceramide NP, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Madecassoside, Copper Tripeptide-1, Squalane, Allantoin, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, C14-22 Alcohols, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Trehalose, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Beta-Glucan
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningZinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isododecane, Niacinamide, Jojoba Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAllantoin 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 AllantoinAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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
