What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Sodium Hyaluronate, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Allantoin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa Starch, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbeth-30
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Cyclohexane
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Linalool
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Sorbeth-30, Betaine, Oligopeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Cyclohexane, Phenoxyethanol, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Linalool
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 AllantoinPhenoxyethanol 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 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 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