What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate 2%
Antioxidant
Niacinamide 2%
Smoothing
Urea
Buffering
Betaine 1%
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Sodium Polygamma-Glutamate
Emulsion Stabilising2-Aminobutanol
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate 2%, Niacinamide 2%, Urea, Betaine 1%, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Triethylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Hydrogenated Lecithin, CI 15985, Glycine Soja Sterols, Sodium Polygamma-Glutamate, 2-Aminobutanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantArbutin
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glutathione
Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Cyclohexane
SolventAcrylic Acid
Triethanolamine
BufferingGuaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dibutyl Adipate, Allantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Arbutin, Citric Acid, Acetyl Tyrosine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glutathione, Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Ethyl Acetate, Cyclohexane, Acrylic Acid, Triethanolamine, Guaiazulene, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Benzoate
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 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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
