What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAmniotic Fluid
MoisturisingGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPolysorbate 40
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingTea-Stearate
CleansingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMyrtus Communis Extract
AstringentMimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientHypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingSerine
MaskingRhizobian Gum
Tea-Lactate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingMagnesium Chloride
Niacinamide
SmoothingVinegar
Lactic Acid
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSorbitol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeAlcohol
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Propylene Glycol, Amniotic Fluid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 40, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-2 Stearate, Tea-Stearate, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Myrtus Communis Extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Allantoin, Urea, Serine, Rhizobian Gum, Tea-Lactate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Magnesium Chloride, Niacinamide, Vinegar, Lactic Acid, Gluconolactone, Pyridoxine Hcl, Thiamine Hcl, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Alcohol, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin ConditioningHeptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolyvinyl Alcohol
Methylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Panthenol, Ethoxydiglycol, Dimethicone, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acetyl Glutamine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Laureth-7, Diazolidinyl Urea, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
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 AllantoinCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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