What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantCimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
AntimicrobialSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trideceth-10, Panthenol, Allantoin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, 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, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantEscin
TonicHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Allantoin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Escin, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate
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 moisturizingg properties. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Studies show higher concentrations of this ingredient can promote wound healing.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilPanthenol 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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water