What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientProline
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingMagnesium Lactate
BufferingPotassium Lactate
BufferingMagnesium Chloride
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPapain
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCalcium Pantothenate
Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCyclodextrin
AbsorbentUrea
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingVaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Proline, Alanine, Serine, Magnesium Lactate, Potassium Lactate, Magnesium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Papain, Panthenol, Glycerin, Maltodextrin, Calcium Pantothenate, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Xanthan Gum, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSorbitol
HumectantCocamide
EmulsifyingPapain
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingUrea
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMagnesium Lactate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Lactate
BufferingSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Steareth-21
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientLactobionic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Steareth-2, Sorbitol, Cocamide, Papain, Calcium Pantothenate, Xanthan Gum, Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Lactate, Serine, Alanine, Proline, Magnesium Chloride, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobionic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Pvp, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body. Our skin uses alanine to build collagen, elastin, and keratin.
Calcium Pantothenate is calcium salt from Vitamin B5. It can be naturally found in plants and animals.
Calcium Pantothenate is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. This may help reduce the signs of aging.
Our bodies use Calcium Pantothenate for various metabolic functinos. These functions include metabolizing carbohydrates, proteins, and fatty acids.
Learn more about Calcium PantothenateCaprylyl 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 EthylhexylglycerinMagnesium chloride is a mineral salt made from magnesium and chloride. It is mainly used to control product stability and texture in cosmetics.
This ingredient can also play a role in soothing the skin and supporting normal skin function.
Magnesium chloride is water-soluble, generally well tolerated, and does not act as a strong “active” ingredient on its own.
Learn more about Magnesium ChlorideWe don't have a description for Magnesium Lactate yet.
Papain is an enzyme found naturally in the papaya plant's leaves, fruit, and roots. It has antimicrobial, soothing, and wound healing properties.
Glycine and Vitamin A are naturally found in papain.
While papain is often touted as skin-lightening, further studies are needed to prove this. However, papain has been shown to help soothe acne-inflammation.
Papain belongs to a class of enzymes called proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes break down peptides and amino acids.
Some studies found papain to be a potential skin sensitizer and allergen. Those with latex allergies might also be allergic to papaya.
Learn more about PapainPotassium lactate is the potassium salt of lactic acid. It has humectant, skin conditioning, and buffering properties.
This ingredient is an effective humectant because of its ability to hold onto water (like hyaluronic acid). This helps the skin maintain hydration.
Besides hydration, this ingredient is also a buffer and helps stabilize the pH of formulations.
Learn more about Potassium LactateProline is a non-essential amino acid, meaning your body can make it on its own. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning ingredient that keeps skin soft and hydrated.
It makes up about 23% of the collagen molecule (collagen is the protein responsible for keeping your skin firm) and is involved in your skin's natural hyaluronic acid production. When applied topically, proline can penetrate the skin fairly well due to its small molecular size.
Reviews of this ingredient have found it to be neither a dermal irritant nor a sensitizer.
Fun fact: Proline can be found in protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Learn more about ProlineSerine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
Learn more about SerineUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum