What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Tripropylene Glycol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aspergillus/Rice Germ Ferment Extract Filtrate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Potentilla Anserina Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glutathione
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingWater, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Tripropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-3, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Aspergillus/Rice Germ Ferment Extract Filtrate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Ectoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adenosine, Arginine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Potentilla Anserina Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyquaternium-51, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Ceramide NP, Betaine, Allantoin, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutathione, Madecassoside, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sucrose Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cysteamine Hcl
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Lavandula Hybrida Herb Oil
Perfuming
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium 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
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer 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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
