What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Xylitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Glutathione
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Ectoin, Carbomer, C12-14 Alketh-12, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dextrin, Adenosine, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Disodium EDTA, Cyanocobalamin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sorbitan Laurate, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Glutamine, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Collagen Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Sodium Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Glutathione, Copper Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-3, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about Lecithinsh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide found naturally in our bodies. Peptides are the building blocks for collagen and elastin in our skin.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is bioengineered to be identical to a human gene that codes for epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF are signal molecules that simulate cell growth and healing.
Studies find EGF help with:
In South Korea and China, EGF is considered a controversial ingredient. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has cracked down on companies with products including EGF due to false advertisement claims.
According to Dr. Zoe Draelos, growth factors have some drawbacks:
There is also controversy surrounding growth factors. The controversy is due to their mitogenic activity, or their ability to increase the number of cells. It is best to avoid using growth factors if you have psoriasis or are at risk of skin cancer. However, it should be noted EGF are not mutagenic - meaning they will not cause cancer.
Learn more about Sh-Oligopeptide-1This extract comes from the blueberry native to North America. It has great antioxidant and skin soothing properties.
The antioxidant properties from blueberries come from its polyphenolic and vitamin C content. Polyphenols are a compound famous for their antioxidant properties and are commonly found in fruits.
A 2023 study found blueberries to protect skin from UV-B related inflammation. However, this ingredient should not replace your sunscreen.
Learn more about Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit ExtractWater. 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
