What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Poloxamer 184
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Poloxamer 184, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Allantoin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalene
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingFructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentAlanine
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Vitis Vinifera Seed
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningViscum Album Leaf Extract
SoothingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalene, Hexylene Glycol, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Dextrin, Alanine, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-6, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Viscum Album Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Achillea Millefolium Flower Extract, Allantoin, Urea, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
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 AllantoinThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric 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 AcidGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseWater. 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
