What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilk Amino Acids
HumectantGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Menthol
Masking
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
PEG-35 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingHibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract
Masking
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Nonoxynol-14
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Maltodextrin, Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Menthol, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Menthyl Lactate, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Nonoxynol-14, Propylene Glycol, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Betaine, Methylpropanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzophenone-4, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hydroxide, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Lactobacillus, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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 AllantoinDisodium 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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinMethylpropanediol 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 MethylpropanediolSodium 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 Water
