What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Sorbitol
Humectant
Trimethyl Pentaphenyl Trisiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tapioca Starch
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract
Skin Protecting
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Magnesium Sulfate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Triisopropanolamine
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Propanediol, Sorbitol, Trimethyl Pentaphenyl Trisiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tapioca Starch, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Beta-Sitosterol, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phytosterols, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Madecassoside, Ceramide NP, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Triisopropanolamine, Tocopherol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientAmmonium Glycolate
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Trehalose
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Placental Extract
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
Masking
Plantago Major Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Alginic Acid
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Carbon Dioxide
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Human Bone Marrow Stem Cell Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningPlatinum
Antimicrobial
Agar
MaskingPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantWedelia Calendulacea Extract
Humectant
Lagenaria Siceraria Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Plumbago Zeylanica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAegle Marmelos Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSantalum Album Extract
CleansingCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningNyctanthes Arbor-Tristis Leaf Extract
EmollientSwertia Chirata Extract
HumectantTerminalia Bellerica Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Leaf Extract
BleachingBarleria Prionitis Stem Extract
MaskingBerberis Vulgaris Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Stellata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Thymidine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Panthenyl Ethyl Ether
Hydrolyzed Rna
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed DNA
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Butylene Glycol, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Ammonium Glycolate, Squalane, Sodium Bicarbonate, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Linoleic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Dextrin Palmitate, Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate, Allantoin, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Trehalose, Salicylic Acid, Hydrolyzed Silk, Placental Extract, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract, Plantago Major Seed Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alginic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Carbon Dioxide, Lactic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Retinol, Human Bone Marrow Stem Cell Conditioned Media, Platinum, Agar, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Wedelia Calendulacea Extract, Lagenaria Siceraria Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Plumbago Zeylanica Root Extract, Aegle Marmelos Root Extract, Santalum Album Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Stem Extract, Nyctanthes Arbor-Tristis Leaf Extract, Swertia Chirata Extract, Terminalia Bellerica Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Leaf Extract, Barleria Prionitis Stem Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Stem Extract, Nymphaea Stellata Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thymidine, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Hydrolyzed Rna, Hydrolyzed DNA, Propylene Glycol, Phytosterols, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Cellulose Gum
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 GlycerinPhytosterols are plant-derived sterols (you can think of them as the plant world's version of cholesterol). In cosmetics, this ingredient is usually sourced from soybean, rice bran, shea, sunflower, and other seed oils.
The main actors in this group are β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol (the CIR covers 27 phytosterols).
They work by fitting perfectly into your stratum corneum's lipid matrix since they're structurally similar to cholesterol. Here, they reinforce your skin's barrier.
One small in vivo human study showed topical soybean phytosterols sped up barrier recovery within three days on tape-stripped skin.
Broader research credits them with:
Formulation use typically sit under 5%.
Testing in soy-allergic subjects found no sensitization signals, but be sure to patch test if you are unsure or have existing allergies.
Learn more about PhytosterolsSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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
