What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate 2%
AntioxidantNiacinamide 2%
SmoothingUrea
BufferingBetaine 1%
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingTriethylene Glycol
MaskingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientSodium Polygamma-Glutamate
Emulsion Stabilising2-Aminobutanol
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, 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 ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDibutyl Adipate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingKojic Acid
AntioxidantPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCysteamine Hcl
AntioxidantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingLavandula Hybrida Herb Oil
PerfumingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantCeteareth-20
CleansingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dibutyl Adipate, Saccharide Isomerate, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum, Kojic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Cysteamine Hcl, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Herb Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Allantoin, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerChlorphenesin 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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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