What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChamaecyparis Obtusa Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantVincetoxicum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantErythritol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAlbatrellus Confluens Extract
HumectantHyaluronic Acid/Polyisopropylacrylamide Copolymer
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Erythritol, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sorbitol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Hyaluronic Acid/Polyisopropylacrylamide Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ectoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Guaiazulene
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAspartic Acid
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantWater, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Betaine, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Guaiazulene, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Aspartic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 HydroxyacetophenoneMethylpropanediol 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 MethylpropanediolPanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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 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