What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glycine Max Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Soybean Glycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Isododecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycine Max Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Allantoin, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Soybean Glycerides, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Myristyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glucose, Arachidyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysilicone-11
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Water
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingSilica
Abrasive
Bidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingIsoceteth-10
EmulsifyingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Benzoate
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Polysilicone-11, Saccharide Isomerate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Parfum, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Silica, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Laureth-12, Isoceteth-10, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Silybum Marianum Extract, Methyl Benzoate, Tocopherol
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 AllantoinCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
