What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, Water, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Geranium Maculatum Oil
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Maltodextrin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
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 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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, 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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser.
On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
