What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientMadecassoside
AntioxidantMonascus/Rice Ferment
AntioxidantLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Niacinamide, Lauryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Parfum, Panthenol, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Allantoin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Ectoin, Pentylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Monascus/Rice Ferment, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPolyvinyl Alcohol
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventLactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingArginine
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Glycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientMadecassoside
AntioxidantPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingPanax Ginseng Root Extract, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Collagen Extract, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Sodium Gluconate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Allantoin, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
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
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 AllantoinCamellia Japonica Flower Extract comes from the Japanese Camellia plant. This plant is native to East Asia and known as "Tsubaki" in Japanese.
Tsubaki flowers possess antioxidant and soothing properties. This flower has shown to be effective at fighting pollution damage by protecting your skin's fibroblasts. Your skin's fibroblasts help create collagen and collagen is responsible for youthful, plump skin.
This flower also contains many antioxidant enzymes. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. They may originate from sunlight, air pollution, or cigarette smoke. These free-radical molecules are unstable and are often looking for missing electrons. This instability causes free-radicals to damage our cells. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons.
Thus, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract may help reduce the signs of aging.
Learn more about Camellia Japonica Flower ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosideNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePanthenol 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 PanthenolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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