What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingProline
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingOxido Reductases
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Persea Gratissima Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tocopherol, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium PCA, Citric Acid, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Proline, Glycine, Arginine, Serine, Trehalose, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Oxido Reductases, Allantoin, Urea, Sorbitol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lactate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Propanediol
Solvent
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCalanthe Discolor Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Santalum Album Extract
CleansingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Pullulan
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Steareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Glycolate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Formate
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Bakuchiol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Calanthe Discolor Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Santalum Album Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycine Soja Protein, Biotin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Pullulan, Superoxide Dismutase, Chrysin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Gluconolactone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Steareth-20, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Glycolate, Citric Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Formate, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, CI 77007, CI 77891
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 AllantoinCarbomer 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 CarbomerCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Protein comes from the soybean. It is an emulsifer and helps to condition skin. Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oils.
Learn more about Glycine Soja Oil.
Panthenol 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 PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
