What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentMethylpropanediol
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Methylpropanediol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Allantoin, Octyldodeceth-16, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Extract, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Arginine, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Betaine, Panthenol, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
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
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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 Panthenol