What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentMethylpropanediol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Water, Gluconolactone, Panthenol, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Salicylic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientSqualane
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingCholesterol
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Extract
MaskingPCA
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Glycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingPolyacrylamide
Linolenic Acid
CleansingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Ectoin, Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Glucoside, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Squalane, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Laureth-7, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium PCA, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lactate, Cholesterol, Hyaluronic Acid, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract, PCA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Glycine, Alanine, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Serine, Valine, Sodium Salicylate, Citric Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Threonine, Isoleucine, Proline, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Polyacrylamide, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide EOP
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 AllantoinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPanthenol 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.
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 HyaluronateTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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