What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBackhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPlatycarya Strobilacea Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C11-15-Isoalkanes
Perfuming
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Propanediol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Allantoin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract, Platycarya Strobilacea Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, C11-15-Isoalkanes, Laureth-7, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Corymbosum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polyglutamic Acid, Vaccinium Corymbosum Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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
