What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Fragile Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientCentella Asiatica Leaf Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Allantoin, Betaine, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Codium Fragile Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Squalane
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Distearate
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingBetaine
HumectantLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
AntioxidantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenium Obesum Leaf Cell Extract
MaskingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Panthenol, Arginine, Madecassoside, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Betaine, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Adenium Obesum Leaf Cell Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium 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 GlycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePanthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum