What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Calcium Chloride
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Phytate
Parfum
Masking
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningColeus Forskohlii Root Extract
EmollientTrehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningAlgin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingPullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Calcium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Phytate, Parfum, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, Propanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Micrococcus Lysate, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Potassium Phosphate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus
Masking
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Chloride
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus, Glucomannan, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Erythritol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Chloride, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77288
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 AllantoinCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
