What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Tapioca Starch
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Tetrapeptide-21, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Tapioca Starch, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientHydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Squalane
Emollient
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Copper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Propanediol
Solvent
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, Hydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Squalane, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maltodextrin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
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 AllantoinCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerThis peptide is the copper salt and formed by reacting palmitic acid and heptapeptide-14.
This uses a high-tech delivery system called The Cosmetic Drone, where the peptide is enclosed in a shell made from Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer and Polyvinyl Alcohol. Another peptide on the outside guides the capsule to fibroblast cells, the collagen-producing cells in the skin.
Once it reaches the fibroblasts, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 boosts the production of collagen and elastin.
This advanced system works at an incredibly low concentration of just 0.001%.
Learn more about Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a combination of two AHAs, lactic acid and glycolic acid. It has exfoliating properties
Panthenol 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 PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Polyvinyl Alcohol yet.
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
