What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingMirabilis Jalapa Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
Propanediol
Solvent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Amodimethicone, Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Laureth-7, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Propanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Olivate
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Bacillus Lysate
Skin ProtectingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Squalane
Emollient
Cysteamine Hcl
Antioxidant
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Zinc Oxide, Dicaprylyl Ether, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Titanium Dioxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Maltodextrin, Bacillus Lysate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Squalane, Cysteamine Hcl, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Beta-Carotene, Xanthophylls, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propanediol, Polysorbate 60, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Oryza Sativa Extract, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol
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.
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 preservatives
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 AllantoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePentylene 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 GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
