What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPeat Water
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Water, Gluconolactone, Lactic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Peat Water, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Charcoal Powder
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Dioscorea Opposita Root
Skin ConditioningGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Laurate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingAscorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Methylpropanediol, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Opposita Root, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Allantoin, Sucrose, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Potassium Laurate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolWater. 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
