What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tromethamine
BufferingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cyclohexane
SolventAcrylic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Squalane, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide EOP, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Cyclohexane, Acrylic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Heptyl Glucoside
SurfactantOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Polyacrylate-13
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyisobutene
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHeptanol
Perfuming
Water, Stearic Acid, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Heptyl Glucoside, Octocrylene, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Polyacrylate-13, Chlorphenesin, Butylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Potassium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Heptanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
