What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Leucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Valine
MaskingSodium Aspartate
BufferingThreonine
Alanine
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenylalanine
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Tyrosine
MaskingDisodium Inosinate
EmollientDisodium Guanylate
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Xylitol, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimethicone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Beeswax, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polysorbate 60, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethiconol, Carnosine, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Histidine, Taurine, Lysine Hcl, Polyquaternium-61, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Leucine, Histidine Hcl, Serine, Valine, Sodium Aspartate, Threonine, Alanine, Isoleucine, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenylalanine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Arginine, Proline, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tyrosine, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Α-Olefin Oligomer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
PEG-90
HumectantPetrolatum
Emollient
Decamethyltetrasiloxane
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Calcium Chloride
AstringentMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Water, Glycerin, Α-Olefin Oligomer, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PEG-90, Petrolatum, Decamethyltetrasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Batyl Alcohol, Carbomer, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AllantoinBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene 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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
