What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Collagen, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Allantoin, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Tocopherol, Acetyl Cysteine, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Malic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, Ceramide EOP, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, 2,3-Butanediol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Sulfite
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 AllantoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronatePanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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
