What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Milk
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Kaolin
Abrasive
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Oryza Sativa Powder
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Serine
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Milk, Glutathione, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Glycerin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Kaolin, Mandelic Acid, Oryza Sativa Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Arginine, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Allantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Serine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Sucrose Stearate, Citric Acid, Ceramide NP, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ng, Glycosphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Azelaic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Betaine Salicylate, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Squalane, Zinc PCA, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP
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 AllantoinCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
