What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Isostearic Acid
CleansingSucrose Stearate
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Arginine
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientSodium 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 ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantArginine
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingPorphyra Umbilicalis Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Hyaluronic Acid, Carbomer, Glycerin, Arginine, Niacinamide, Isoamyl Laurate, Allantoin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Propylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylyl Glycol
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 ArginineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 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 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 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