What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Isohexadecane
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Escin
TonicSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, PEG-75 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Chlorphenesin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Citric Acid, Escin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Betaine
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Coco-Glucoside, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Sorbitan Olivate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Panthenol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Betaine, Salicylic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePanthenol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
