What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-29
Antioxidant
Oligopeptide-32
Antiseborrhoeic
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Arginine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Disodium EDTA, Isostearic Acid, Sucrose Stearate, PEG-8, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Arginine, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Trehalose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Disiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Trehalose, Phenyl Trimethicone, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Allantoin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Oleth-10, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Disiloxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, 2,3-Butanediol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
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 AllantoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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
