What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCollagen Water
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSh-Polypeptide-22
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-3
Skin ConditioningWater, Collagen Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Allantoin, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cyanocobalamin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen Extract, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-3
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAlgin
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGellan Gum
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Chloride
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexapeptide-2
BleachingDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Dipeptide-17
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Chondrus Crispus Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Sodium Dna, Collagen, Glyceryl Glucoside, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Algin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glucomannan, Sucrose, Allantoin, Gellan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polysorbate 80, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Chloride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexapeptide-2, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Capryloyl Dipeptide-17, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Biotin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Oligopeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2
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 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidThis synthetic peptide is created from lysine, valine, and palmitic acid.
According to the manufacturer, in-vitro studies show tissue growth and collagen synthesis. Another in-vivo study found 60 volunteers saw a significant reduction in wrinkles after 84 days.
Due to its palmitic acid base, this peptide may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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