What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Sulfone
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Succinic Acid
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sebacic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
1,10-Decanediol
SolventDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethyl Sulfone, Butylene Glycol, Succinic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Propanediol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Mandelic Acid, Sebacic Acid, Glycerin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, 1,10-Decanediol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Succinic Acid
BufferingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Honokiol
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Succinic Acid, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Tocopherol, Arginine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Honokiol
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.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
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 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSuccinic acid is an odorless white powder. It is naturally found in our bodies but can also be derived from living organisms.
Succinic acid is water-soluble. The pH level of this ingredient is between 4.2 and 5.6.
While succinic acid posesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, these properties have not been studied in skincare products.
Fun fact: Succinic acid was known as the 'spirit of amber' in the past. This is because it used to be derived from distilling amber.
Learn more about Succinic AcidWater. 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
