What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxycinnamic Acid
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rutin
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentGlycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12-14 Pareth-12, Tromethamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Malachite Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Rutin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Guaiazulene, Gluconolactone, Sea Water, Sodium PCA, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGuaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Erythritol, Xylitol, Allantoin, Sodium Chloride, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Citrate, Guaiazulene, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Madecassoside, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Zinc PCA
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 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 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 EthylhexylglycerinGuaiazulene is a fragrance.
sh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide found naturally in our bodies. Peptides are the building blocks for collagen and elastin in our skin.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is bioengineered to be identical to a human gene that codes for epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF are signal molecules that simulate cell growth and healing.
Studies find EGF help with:
In South Korea and China, EGF is considered a controversial ingredient. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has cracked down on companies with products including EGF due to false advertisement claims.
According to Dr. Zoe Draelos, growth factors have some drawbacks:
There is also controversy surrounding growth factors. The controversy is due to their mitogenic activity, or their ability to increase the number of cells. It is best to avoid using growth factors if you have psoriasis or are at risk of skin cancer. However, it should be noted EGF are not mutagenic - meaning they will not cause cancer.
Learn more about Sh-Oligopeptide-1Water. 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
