What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Sea Water
HumectantMyosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Abies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Cetraria Islandica Extract
CleansingMentha Aquatica Extract
TonicAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Sea Water, Myosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Abies Sibirica Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Cetraria Islandica Extract, Mentha Aquatica Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Benzyl Glycol
SolventXylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Anhydroxylitol, Benzyl Glycol, Xylitol, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinWater. 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
