What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingHexadecene
SolventTetradecene
EmollientMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingSodium Sulfate
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Betaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPapain
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Hexadecene, Tetradecene, Mentha Piperita Oil, Sodium Sulfate, Mentha Piperita Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Propanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Butylene Glycol, Papain, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingAloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctanediol
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Lauryl Glucoside, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Panthenol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, 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.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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAllantoin 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
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 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 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 GlycerinLauryl Hydroxysultaine is a mild surfactant or cleansing ingredient that helps lift away dirt/oil, boost foam, and thicken the formula. It plays nicely with other surfactants and stays stable across a wide pH range.
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract is from the Neem tree. Neem trees originate from India.
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
The flowers of this tree are lilac colored.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Flower ExtractMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract is extract from the neem plant.
The leaves of this tree contain flavonoids and polyphenols. These two compounds are antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. Further research is needed as to their effects when applied on skin.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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