What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Chrysanthemum Indicum Callus Culture Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Allantoin, Myristyl Alcohol, Cellulose Gum, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientPEG-60
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantUbiquinone
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Sprout
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Cellulose Gum, Betaine, Ubiquinone, Camellia Sinensis Callus Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Sprout, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 AllantoinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCellulose Gum is a water-soluble polymer that comes from cellulose. It is used to change the texture of a product and to help stabilize emulsions.
As an emulsifier, cellulose gum specifically thicken the texture of water-based products.
This ingredient is considered hypoallergenic and non-toxic. Cellulose Gum can be found in cosmetics, food, and other household goods such as paper products.
Learn more about Cellulose GumGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Snail Secretion Filtrate is the excretion from snails. It is an effective moisturizer and promotes collagen production.
A popular nickname for this ingredient is 'Snail Mucin'.
Snail mucin has numerous skin benefits:
On top of this, Snail Secretion Filtrate contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. These include copper peptides, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. Vitamins A and E are antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals that damage skin cells.
Being cruelty-free means a brand does not experiment on animals.
If you're worried about the well-being of the snails, we recommend looking more into the company of the product. Many brands have developed humane methods to collect snail mucin.
There is much debate on this subject. On one hand, this ingredient comes from an animal. On the other hand, many will argue the ingredient is naturally secreted (like a natural by-product) and therefore vegan. If you have reservations, you can look into Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract as alternatives.
Learn more about Snail Secretion FiltrateWater. 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