What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hieracium Umbellatum Extract
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Mutabilis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRheum Palmatum Root Extract
Astringent
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Sulfone
SolventChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Betaine, Propanediol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Hieracium Umbellatum Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Sorbitol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Hibiscus Mutabilis Flower Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Dimethyl Sulfone, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglutamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Arginine, Allantoin, Adenosine
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water 77%
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide 5%
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingZinc PCA 1%
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Trehalose
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Docosahexaenoic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Houttuynia Cordata Water
MaskingIsoquercitrin
Antioxidant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water 77%, Niacinamide 5%, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Zinc PCA 1%, Propanediol, Trehalose, Water, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Pyridoxine Hcl, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Houttuynia Cordata Water, Isoquercitrin, Quercetin
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAllantoin 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 AllantoinBetaine 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 BetaineButylene 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
