What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantVitis Vinifera
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentRetinol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Retinol, Carbomer, Allantoin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCollagen
MoisturisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBakuchiol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Collagen, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Bakuchiol, Polysorbate 20, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phospholipids, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Astaxanthin, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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