What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract
SmoothingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Kaolin
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Zinc Ricinoleate
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylcellulose
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Water, Tapioca Starch, Kaolin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triethyl Citrate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xylitol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Glycolic Acid, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Tapioca Starch
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualene
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tapioca Starch, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Squalene
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 GlycerinPolymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneTapioca starch is a thickening agent and is made from the cassava root, also known as yucca.
According to a manufacturer, it is an excellent talc replacement.
It is gluten-free.
Learn more about Tapioca StarchTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethyl Citrate comes from citric acid. It has masking, perfuming, and solvent properties. As a solvent, this ingredient helps disperse ingredients evenly in skincare.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient can:
According to perfume manufacturers, this ingredient is almost odorless but has a mild fruity, wine and plum scent. It can be used to mask the scent of other ingredients.
This ingredient can be plant-sourced or synthetic; it can naturally be found in cabbage and white wine.
Learn more about Triethyl CitrateWater. 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
