What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingFish Liver Oil
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Limonene
PerfumingWater, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Fish Liver Oil, Betaine, Allantoin, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Arginine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantC13-16 Isoalkane
SolventHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Allantoin, Glucose, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosterols, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglycerin-3, C13-16 Isoalkane, Heptyl Undecylenate, Vinyldimethicone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Coptis Japonica Root Extract
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 AllantoinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 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 CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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