What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Salvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquioleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Glycolipids, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Sodium Surfactin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-5 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSorbitol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
Abrasive
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-5 Dioleate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sorbitol, Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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 one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
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 ExtractChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract comes from the Chamomile flower.
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.
Antioxidant components in chamomile make it an effective ingredient to help slow the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or molecules that may damage your skin.
Essential oils from chamomile have been found to improve wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used Chamomile to treat skin redness and dryness. Chamomile has also been used to help treat stomach issues.
Learn more about Chamomilla Recutita Flower ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilVitis Vinifera Seed Oil comes from the grape vine. Grape seeds are a byproduct of creating grape juice or wine.
The components of grape seeds have many skin benefits. Research has found it to be antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It also contains many potent antioxidants such as Vitamin E , Vitamin C, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Proanthocyanidin has been shown to help even out skin tone.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. Grape seed extract may help reduce the signs of aging.
The antimicrobial properties of grape seed may help treat acne. However, more research is needed to support this claim.
Grape seed has also been found to help absorb UV rays. Grape seed extract should not replace your sunscreen.
The fatty acids of grape seed oil give it emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin by creating a film. This film traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydrated.
Learn more about Vitis Vinifera Seed OilWater. 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
