What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Arisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
2-Methyl 5-Cyclohexylpentanol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, 2-Methyl 5-Cyclohexylpentanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Allantoin, Sodium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Lactate
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Piper Nigrum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Gluconolactone, Potassium Lactate, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Octyldodecanol, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Piper Nigrum Fruit Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Betaine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum
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 AllantoinAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractBetaine 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 BetainePolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propanediol 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 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 Water
