What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Trehalose
Humectant
Coptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Mentha Arvensis Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Cymbopogon Citratus Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Erythritol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hordeum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Water, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Trehalose, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Citrate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Erythritol, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Hordeum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Sodium DNA, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Calendula Officinalis Flower Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Water, C12-14 Pareth-12, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Dextrin, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolDextrin is a starch-derived polysaccharide. It's made by partially breaking down corn, potato, or other plant starches.
Think of it as "half-processed" starch; it's less complex than the original but not fully broken down into sugar like maltodextrin.
In cosmetics, it mainly functions as a bulking agent, viscosity controller, binder, and absorbent. It helps thicken products, stabilize powders, and get certain textures a less "wet" feel.
This ingredient has a pretty solid safety profile; it's recognized as a safe food additive and its large molecular size means it doesn't meaningfully penetrate skin.
Human repeat insult patch tests using a rinse-off facial product containing 42.69% dextrin found no skin irritation or sensitization in 54 subjects.
Typical real-world usage is much lower: usually under 1% as a texture modifier and up to 40% in masks (rinse off products use less).
Learn more about DextrinEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
