What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Glucose
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMirabilis Jalapa Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPEG-8
HumectantPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPhragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Glucose, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Phragmites Karka Extract, Polysilicone-11, Poria Cocos Extract, Propanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylamide
Tromethamine
BufferingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Algae Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Polyacrylamide, Tromethamine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Laureth-7, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Copper Gluconate, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
Alternatives
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 AllantoinBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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