What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Mentha Viridis Leaf Extract
Masking
Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicSorghum Bicolor Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carbomer, Arginine, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Mentha Viridis Leaf Extract, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Propanediol, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Aspergillus Ferment, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Sorghum Bicolor Leaf/Stem Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Brassica Campestris Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Saccharide Isomerate
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitamide Mea
Acetamide Mea
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Inulin, Maltodextrin, Beta-Glucan, Yeast Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sarcosine, Palmitamide Mea, Acetamide Mea, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Carbomer, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolWater. 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
