What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingWater, Azelaic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Madecassoside, Tocopherol, Arginine
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantMilk Exosomes
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCampsis Grandiflora Flower Extract
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Azelaic Acid, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Dextrin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Milk Exosomes, Panthenol, Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid
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
Azelaic acid is a multitasker ingredient that helps treat acne, pigmentation, and irritation. It is a great option for sensitive skin.
What makes it special?
OTC Azelaic acid is usually available in concentrations from 10-15% and anything over requires a prescription.
Here's what each tier does best:
Unlike other acids, azelaic acid will not make your skin more photosensitive/sun sensitive.
Though this ingredient is naturally occurring in grains like wheat, rye, and barley, it is usually synthetically created for cosmetics to ensure stability and effectiveness.
Learn more about Azelaic AcidButylene 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 GlycolDextrin is a starch-derived polysaccharide. It's made by partially breaking down corn, potato, or other plant starches.
Think of it as "half-processed" starch; it's less complex than the original but not fully broken down into sugar like maltodextrin.
In cosmetics, it mainly functions as a bulking agent, viscosity controller, binder, and absorbent. It helps thicken products, stabilize powders, and get certain textures a less "wet" feel.
This ingredient has a pretty solid safety profile; it's recognized as a safe food additive and its large molecular size means it doesn't meaningfully penetrate skin.
Human repeat insult patch tests using a rinse-off facial product containing 42.69% dextrin found no skin irritation or sensitization in 54 subjects.
Typical real-world usage is much lower: usually under 1% as a texture modifier and up to 40% in masks (rinse off products use less).
Learn more about DextrinEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePanthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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