What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Citric Acid
Buffering
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phytic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalene
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentapeptide-48
Skin Conditioning
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Lecithin, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carbomer, Phenethyl Alcohol, Acer Saccharum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Tocopherol, Phytic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Maltodextrin, Pentapeptide-48, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Algin
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Chloride
Agar
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Niacinamide, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Algin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Chloride, Agar, Caprylyl Glycol, Sucrose, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Collagen Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Tocopherol
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 AllantoinCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
