What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract 10%
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSophora Flavescens Extract
Skin ConditioningImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCodonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentPEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Propolis Extract 10%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Sophora Flavescens Extract, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Propanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Arginine, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Honey Extract, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Biotin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Disodium EDTA
Saccharomyces/Snail Secretion Filtrate Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventLactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingUlmus Campestris Bark Extract
AstringentPlantago Asiatica Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAlthaea Rosea Root Extract
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBee Venom
AstringentBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces/Snail Secretion Filtrate Ferment Filtrate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Ulmus Campestris Bark Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Allantoin, Adenosine, Bee Venom, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum
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.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 AllantoinBeta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is also known as pal-GHK. It is made up of 3 amino acids and palmitic acid, a fatty acid that helps it absorb into skin more easily.
This peptide is as a signal peptide, meaning it tells the skin to produce more collagen. Collagen is the key protein that helps form the skin's structure and keep it plump, firm, and hydrated.
By boosting collagen production, this ingredient supports a stronger skin barrier and helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
You'll most likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex. While results from in-house testing should be viewed cautiously, this peptide duo is among the most studied and widely used in modern skincare.
Due to its palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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