What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Allium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Heparin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllium Cepa Bulb Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Heparin, Panthenol, Allantoin, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Gluconolactone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lauryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Propanediol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Citric Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Phenoxyethanol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Parfum
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 AllantoinCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 PanthenolSodium 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
