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 ConditioningSolanum 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 ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 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 GlycerinGuaiazulene 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
