What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tannic Acid
AstringentHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Mentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingSodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Betaine Salicylate, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Allantoin, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Tannic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Menthyl Lactate, Mentha Haplocalix Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycolic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Betaine Salicylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Cyanocobalamin, Pentylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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 AllantoinBetaine Salicylate is considered a salicylic acid alternative.
Limited studies exist proving this ingredient to be a complete alternative to salicylic acid. Based on existing research, this ingredient does not penetrate as deeply and is not shown to be as effective.
However, this makes it a great choice for those with sensitive skin or need gentle BHA action.
This ingredient is created using betaine and salicylic acid.
This ingredient is oil-soluble and is most effective at a pH range of 3.8-4.2.
Learn more about Betaine SalicylateButylene 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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser.
On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LauratePolyglyceryl-10 Myristate is a nonionic emulsifier and skin conditioner made from Polyglycerin-10 and Myristic Acid.
As a skin conditioning agent, this ingredient leaves skin feeling soft without a greasy finish. As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions.
You'll likely see this ingredient in "clean" formulations because it's considered a natural alternative to PEGs.
Patch testing at concentration 0.1-1% showed no reactions and this ingredient is considered to be well-tolerated across skin types.
Due to its myristic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 MyristateSodium 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
