What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialTilia Cordata Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentArbutin
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Glycereth-26, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maltodextrin, Arbutin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantCirsium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingErica Cinerea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientPimpinella Anisum Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-4-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Urea, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Cirsium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Erica Cinerea Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Water, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, PPG-4-Ceteth-20, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract is from the Roman Chamomile flower. It helps soothe the skin and contains antioxidants.
Butylene 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 GlycolCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract comes from the marigold flower and has been used on skin for centuries for its calming effect.
In the lab, its active compounds appear to calm inflammation and support the early "healing" phase of minor wounds.
This is why Europe's medicines regulator has approved calendula extracts as a traditional remedy for minor skin inflammation and healing small wounds.
The stronger human evidence is around would/ulcer care rather than everyday cosmetic claims; a review that pulled together 14 studies found that calendula helped calm the early, inflamed stage of a wound and helped new skin tissue form faster.
Two studies also showed it shrank leg ulcers (the kind caused by poor circulation). Results were mixed for burns and for the skin irritation people get from radiation treatment, so it's not a sure thing there.
In cosmetics, it's mostly a skin conditioning and soothing agent.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel concluded that calendula-derived ingredients are safe as used and that the ingredients are not irritating, sensitizing, or photosensitizing in clinical tests (though they may be mild eye irritants).
Typical use levels are quite low; industry data reported it used at under 0.5% (one supplier noted a 10-25% extract blend used at 1-10% in the finished product). Historical use goes up to 10%.
The only thing to keep in mind is if you have daisy/ragweed allergies. Calendula is in the same family and one patch-test study found 2% of dermatitis patients reacted to marigold. Be sure to patch test if you have sensitive or allergy-prone skin.
Learn more about Calendula Officinalis Flower ExtractCentaurea Cyanus Flower extract comes from the cornflower, Centaurea cyanus. The cornflower is native to Europe.
Cornflowers contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains high amounts of anxiotidants such as Vitamin C. They also contain flavonoids and anthocyanins.
Folk medicine in European cultures used cornflowers to help treat eye inflammation.
Fun fact: Cornflowers were used to determine if love was returned. Young men would wear cornflowers and if the color faded quickly, it meant the love was not reciprocated.
Learn more about Centaurea Cyanus Flower ExtractPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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