What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trehalose, Panthenol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Allantoin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rose Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Geraniol, Citronellol
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Erythritol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Artemisia Annua Extract
MaskingAzadirachta Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Disodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Erythritol, Betaine, Chlorphenesin, Arginine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycerin, Artemisia Annua Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Mentha Piperita Oil, Ceramide NP, Charcoal Powder
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 AllantoinBeta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium 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 Hyaluronate
