What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Potassium Chloride
Dextrin
AbsorbentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pearl Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Impatiens Balsamina Flower Extract
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Polyglycerin-3, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Cellulose Gum, Glucomannan, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Chloride, Dextrin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pearl Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Impatiens Balsamina Flower Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningCorn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
CI 77491
Cosmetic Colorant
Reviews
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 AllantoinCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolChondrus Crispus Powder is an exfoliant.
Ci 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
