What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium PCA
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hylocereus Undatus Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Sodium PCA, Polyacrylamide, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Panthenol, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Milk Protein, Phragmites Karka Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine, Bisabolol, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Inositol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Sodium Polygamma-Glutamate
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Niacinamide, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Inositol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Sterols, Sodium Polygamma-Glutamate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin
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 AllantoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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
