What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Urea, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Citrate
Erythritol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentXylitol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientGlucose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Deoxycholate
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sr-(Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1)
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Chlorphenesin, Niacinamide, Betaine, Allantoin, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Asiaticoside, Glycerin, Adenosine, Xylitylglucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Anhydroxylitol, Butylene Glycol, Dextrin, Xylitol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Sodium Chloride, Madecassoside, Sodium Deoxycholate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sr-(Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1), Polysorbate 20, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lecithin, Phosphatidylcholine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-2
Reviews
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 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronatePanthenol 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 PanthenolPentylene 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 GlycolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 Hyaluronate
