What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Root Extract
BleachingTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantFructose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Panthenol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Saururus Chinensis Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Fructose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Caprylate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSilk Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiglycerin
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantPaeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentGlucose
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silk Extract, Xanthan Gum, Diglycerin, Triethanolamine, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Allantoin, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Glucose, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Phenoxyethanol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Madecassoside, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng
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 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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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