What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Methylglucamine
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Chrysanthemum Sibiricum Extract
AntimicrobialPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Donkey Milk
Skin ConditioningCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAverrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Densiflora Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Coral
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Sarcodon Aspratus Extract
Antioxidant
Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract
AntimicrobialLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Liliflora Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Dahurica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Angelica Archangelica Root Extract
Masking
Uncaria Tomentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaurus Nobilis Leaf Extract
MaskingMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAtractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Swiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Honey Extract
Humectant
Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Agaricus Blazei Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningGypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningCordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningBroussonetia Kazinoki Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Aspergillus/Prunus Mume Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Ferment Filtrate
BleachingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Methylglucamine, Lauric Acid, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Dipropylene Glycol, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Chrysanthemum Sibiricum Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Donkey Milk, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Malt Extract, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Averrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract, Pinus Densiflora Extract, Hydrolyzed Coral, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sarcodon Aspratus Extract, Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Magnolia Liliflora Flower Extract, Angelica Dahurica Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Uncaria Tomentosa Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Honey Extract, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Agaricus Blazei Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract, Sapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract, Plankton Extract, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Broussonetia Kazinoki Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Aspergillus/Prunus Mume Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Ferment Filtrate, Allantoin, Trehalose, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tropolone, Coptis Japonica Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Lauric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Gluconolactone, Lactobionic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
Alternatives
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineDisodium 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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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
