What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingSodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Allantoin, Ethoxydiglycol, Ferulic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Sodium Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Glucose, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Water
MaskingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingTranexamic Acid
Astringent3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingOctanediol
Hydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientLactobionic Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantFullerenes
AntimicrobialArbutin
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Phytosterols
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Panthenol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, C12-14 Pareth-12, Tranexamic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Octanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lactobionic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyanocobalamin, Pvp, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Fullerenes, Arbutin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phytosterols, Ascorbyl Glucoside
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
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidAllantoin 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Seed Extract comes from the seed of the wild soybean plant. Wild soybean extract contains fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, linolenic), vitamin E, and antioxidants.
The wild soybean contains soyasaponins, a bioactive compound. Soyasaponins have inflammatory, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial properties. Soyasaponin has also been found to inhibit the melanin-creation process.
Two powerful components found in the wild soybean include genistein and diadzein. These two isoflavones are potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Genistein in particular has been found to prevent redness caused by UV exposure.
One study from South Korea found wild soybean extract to help promote hair growth at the cellular level.
The wild soybean plant is a cousin to the famous soybean that gives us tofu, soy milk, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja Seed ExtractPanthenol 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 PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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