What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingTriethanolamine
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Glycereth-26, Trehalose, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Allantoin, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylamide
Tromethamine
BufferingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Algae Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Polyacrylamide, Tromethamine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Laureth-7, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Copper Gluconate, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 AllantoinCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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