What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Alum
AstringentErythritol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Albatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Rhus Semialata Gall Extract
Skin ConditioningEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Caffeine, Potassium Alum, Erythritol, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Oleanolic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
