What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantErythritol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventBambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
HumectantLecithin
EmollientMenthyl Lactate
MaskingAcrylic Acid/Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonic Acid Copolymer
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAbronia Villosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Americana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingYucca Brevifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFouquieria Splendens Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLarrea Tridentata Extract
Skin ConditioningTamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingGlutathione
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Erythritol, Alcohol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Panthenol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyacrylic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Diisopropyl Adipate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Pantolactone, Lecithin, Menthyl Lactate, Acrylic Acid/Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonic Acid Copolymer, Gold, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Oenothera Biennis Root Extract, Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract, Agave Americana Stem Extract, Xanthan Gum, Yucca Brevifolia Root Extract, Fouquieria Splendens Stem Extract, Larrea Tridentata Extract, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Trehalose, Silica, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Glutathione, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
SolventBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Caffeine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate
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 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 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s 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 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