What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
BHA
Antioxidant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Cellulose Gum, Retinol, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, BHA, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide 10%
Smoothing
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacin
SmoothingThioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate
Cleansing
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Niacinamide 10%, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Beeswax, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacin, Thioctic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Glycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dimethyl Sulfone, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate, Tetrasodium EDTA
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 AllantoinEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
