What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSea Water
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSecale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasiveEctoin
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingPyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingHibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPanicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Methyl Gluceth-10, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Allantoin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Pentylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Panthenol, Royal Jelly, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Viola Tricolor Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sea Water, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Ectoin, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Disodium EDTA, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientLactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSqualane
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTromethamine
BufferingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCyclohexane
SolventAcrylic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Squalane, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Phenoxyethanol, Tromethamine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide EOP, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Cyclohexane, Acrylic 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAllantoin 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Seed Extract comes from the seed of the wild soybean plant. Wild soybean extract contains fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, linolenic), vitamin E, and antioxidants.
The wild soybean contains soyasaponins, a bioactive compound. Soyasaponins have inflammatory, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial properties. Soyasaponin has also been found to inhibit the melanin-creation process.
Two powerful components found in the wild soybean include genistein and diadzein. These two isoflavones are potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Genistein in particular has been found to prevent redness caused by UV exposure.
One study from South Korea found wild soybean extract to help promote hair growth at the cellular level.
The wild soybean plant is a cousin to the famous soybean that gives us tofu, soy milk, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja Seed ExtractPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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