What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Betaine, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingWater, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Xylitylglucoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Anhydroxylitol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Xylitol, Glucose, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is created by distilling parts of the tea tree plant. The bark and leaves of the tea tree plant are rich in Terpinen, an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory ingredient.
Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people due to its linalool and limonene content.
Learn more about tea tree benefits here.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf WaterNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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
