What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trideceth-6
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Panthenol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Trideceth-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Lactic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingMomordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Azelaic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Betaine, Dimethyl Sulfone, Panthenol, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Polysorbate 60, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
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.
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
Azelaic acid is a multitasker ingredient that helps treat acne, pigmentation, and irritation. It is a great option for sensitive skin.
What makes it special?
OTC Azelaic acid is usually available in concentrations from 10-15% and anything over requires a prescription.
Here's what each tier does best:
Unlike other acids, azelaic acid will not make your skin more photosensitive/sun sensitive.
Though this ingredient is naturally occurring in grains like wheat, rye, and barley, it is usually synthetically created for cosmetics to ensure stability and effectiveness.
Learn more about Azelaic AcidCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlyceryl 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 StearatePanthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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
