What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-60
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCellulose
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Cetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hypochlorous Acid
Antiseborrhoeic
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Protease
Exfoliating
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Quaternium-60, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Dipropylene Glycol, Cellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Zea Mays Starch, Caprylyl Methicone, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Caffeine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Charcoal Powder, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hypochlorous Acid, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Protease, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Quaternium-60
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose
Absorbent
Sorbitol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pearl Extract
Antioxidant
Bellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningConvallaria Majalis Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed
Abrasive
Eel Extract
HumectantSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Propylene Glycol, Quaternium-60, Carbomer, Cellulose, Sorbitol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pearl Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Convallaria Majalis Extract, Rosa Canina Seed, Eel Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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 AllantoinButylene 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 CarbomerCellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Quaternium-60 yet.
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 Water
