What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Trehalose
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientChlorella Minutissima Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePteris Multifida Extract
AntioxidantCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-2 Caprate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSucrose Stearate
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingAlumina
AbrasiveBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCholesteryl Macadamiate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientGuaiazulene
AntimicrobialSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Methyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Trehalose, Algae Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Malt Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chlorella Minutissima Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Titanium Dioxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Allantoin, Sucrose Stearate, Fructooligosaccharides, Stearic Acid, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Alumina, Beta-Glucan, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyquaternium-51, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Maltodextrin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Cholesteryl Macadamiate, Palmitic Acid, Guaiazulene, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Buddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Silica, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Dimethiconol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
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
Butylene 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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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