What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-22
Bleaching
Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tranexamic Acid, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-22, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-22, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Bisulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-4
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientSoy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Seed Water
Antimicrobial
Urea
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-4, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Allantoin, Carbomer, Arginine, 4-Butylresorcinol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Dextrin, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Sodium Polyacrylate, Oryza Sativa Seed Water, Urea, Lecithin, Snail Secretion Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethanolamine, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
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 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
