What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Lecithin
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Allantoin, 2,3-Butanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Lecithin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Beta-Glucan, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Myrtus Communis Extract
AstringentCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentAsparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningWine Extract
Antioxidant
Peucedanum Japonicum Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Myrtus Communis Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Wine Extract, Peucedanum Japonicum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Bisabolol, Arginine, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linalool
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 AllantoinBeta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, antiâinflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
