What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate-13
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Pullulan
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Glycine
CleansingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylate-13, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyisobutene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethiconol, Squalane, Pullulan, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Glycine, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Lecithin, Madecassoside, Citric Acid, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Cetraria Islandica Extract
CleansingMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHimanthalia Elongata Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Cetraria Islandica Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 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
