What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Myristate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Stearate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingPropanediol
SolventPalmitic Acid
EmollientPotassium Palmitate
EmulsifyingCoco-Betaine
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantPotassium Benzoate
PreservativeCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Heparin
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Potassium Myristate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristic Acid, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Palmitate, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbitol, Potassium Benzoate, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Allantoin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Heparin, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Potassium Benzoate
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-67
Potassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Pullulan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantSodium Acetate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlutamic Acid
HumectantSerine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Potassium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-67, Potassium Cocoate, Citric Acid, Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Disodium EDTA, Pullulan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sea Water, Sodium Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beta-Glucan, Phosphatidylcholine, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lysine, Alanine, Arginine, Threonine, Proline
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 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 GlycolCoco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.
Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPanthenol 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 PanthenolThis ingredient is a preservative and inhibits the growth of fungi, certain bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is the potassium salt of benzoic acid.
Potassium benzoate works best in products with a low pH level (below 4.5).
Learn more about Potassium BenzoatePotassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
Water. 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