What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide DEA
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polyquaternium-7
Collagen
Moisturising
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyquaternium-7, Collagen, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Lactate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingCentella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Coco-Betaine, Betaine, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Panthenol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Octanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 AllantoinCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract comes from the common Marigold plant part of the Asteraceae family. This ingredient is a skin conditioner.
Marigolds contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of substances found naturally in plants. They possess antioxidant and inflammation properties.
This ingredient soothes skin inflammation by inhibiting inhibiting a part of the inflammation process.
Marigolds have been used in traditional medicine throughout Asia and Europe.
Learn more about Calendula Officinalis Flower ExtractCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
