What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventLactic Acid
Buffering
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-5 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Silica
Abrasive
Magnesium Sulfate
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sebacic Acid
BufferingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
Antimicrobial
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, C13-15 Alkane, Lactic Acid, Cocoglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-5 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, Azelaic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone, Allantoin, Glycerin, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sebacic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Betaine
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Fructan, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Zinc PCA, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Potassium Hydroxide, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
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 GlycolGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideWater. 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
