What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Carbomer, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Adenosine, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Dextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caramel, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Menthyl Lactate, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Inositol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glyceryl Glucoside, Trehalose, Betaine, Erythritol, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Beta-Glucan, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinWe don't have a description for Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide yet.
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateWater. 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
