What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Urea
Buffering
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Amodimethicone
Acrylates Copolymer
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamide Mea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Urea, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Amodimethicone, Acrylates Copolymer, Piroctone Olamine, Allantoin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Lanolin
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Urea, Lanolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glyceryl Stearate, Decyl Oleate, PEG-20 Stearate, Paraffin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Allantoin, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arginine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Parfum
Reviews
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 AllantoinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Urea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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
