What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Trehalose
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Sulfone
SolventMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Propanediol
Solvent
Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Beeswax, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Squalane, Lactobacillus, Dimethyl Sulfone, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Asiaticoside, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Adenosine, Allantoin, Tartaric Acid, Betaine Salicylate, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Propanediol, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sciadopitys Verticillata Root Extract
AntimicrobialCanavalia Gladiata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sciadopitys Verticillata Root Extract, Canavalia Gladiata Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDipropylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
