What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melatonin
Antioxidant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Arginine
Masking
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingWater, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Panthenol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Isododecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ectoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Allantoin, Carnosine, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melatonin, C14-22 Alcohols, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglycerin-3, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Arginine, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Lipids
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Oryza Sativa Lipids, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ectoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Glycerin, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Urea, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, PCA, Sodium PCA, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Trehalose, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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
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 AllantoinArginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineEctoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.
This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells.
When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more.
Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare:
A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light.
Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution.
In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with:
Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient.
Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient.
The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid.
Learn more about EctoinEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
