What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Squalane
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-32
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-75 Stearate
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Pentylene Glycol, Beeswax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyquaternium-51, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Squalane, Allantoin, Arginine, Glycerin, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-32, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-75
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Tuna Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-75 Stearate
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-75, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyquaternium-51, Tuna Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Arginine, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-75 Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, 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 AllantoinArginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineBehenyl 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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWe don't have a description for Glycosyl Trehalose yet.
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate is a made up of a mixture of sugar alcohols (like sorbitol) and is created by hydrogenating corn, wheat, or potato starch.
It acts as a humectant and draws water to the skin to keep it hydrated. Generally, this is a well-tolerated and non-irritating ingredient.
PEG-75 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyquaternium-51 is a polymer salt. It helps hydrate the skin by creating a film on top. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Water. 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
