What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Zinc Gluconate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Polysorbate 60, Madecassoside, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Triethanolamine
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Styrene
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Allantoin, Urea, Triethanolamine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, DMDM Hydantoin, Isohexadecane, Polyacrylate-13, Styrene, BHT, Disodium EDTA, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Citric Acid
Reviews
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 AllantoinCarbomer 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 CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 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 60Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
