What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDipentaerythrityl Pentaisononanoate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trideceth-10
CleansingMelia Azadirachta Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Pentaisononanoate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carbomer, Trehalose, Tromethamine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trideceth-10, Melia Azadirachta Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Calamine
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Trehalose, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylene Brassylate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Allantoin, Dextrin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Madecassoside, Raspberry Ketone, Linalyl Acetate, Gluconolactone, Calamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
Butylene 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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePanthenol 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 Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer and used to help stabilize other ingredients.
Emulsion stabilizers hold ingredients together, helping to create an even texture throughout the product.
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate can also be used to thicken the texture.
Learn more about Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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
