What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiglycerin
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentGlucose
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Water, 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
Water
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPoloxamer 184
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Octanediol
Water, Hexylene Glycol, Poloxamer 184, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Octanediol
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 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
