What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Cymbopogon Citratus Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Mentha Arvensis Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Catechins
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Erythritol, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Catechins, Pentylene Glycol, Collagen Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA
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.
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 preservatives
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 AllantoinArginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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
