What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentPearl Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Glycereth-26, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Pearl Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Allantoin, Panthenol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Reviews
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 AllantoinCarbomer 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 CarbomerDisodium 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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseSodium 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