What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Meal
Abrasive
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Gluconic Acid
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Algae Extract
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Stearate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa Kernel Meal, Niacinamide, Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Panthenol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Allantoin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Algae Extract, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Laureth-3
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingPetrolatum
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Simethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Laureth-3, Stearic Acid, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Petrolatum, Polysorbate 20, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Allantoin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Simethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 19140, CI 77163, Iron Oxides
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 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
