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
Salix Alba Bark Water 85%
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Betaine Salicylate 0.5%
Antimicrobial
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Salix Alba Bark Water 85%, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine Salicylate 0.5%, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Panthenol, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Water, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Mentha Piperita Oil
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 GlycolCitric 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 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 Water
