What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Grandis Seed Extract
AstringentAcorus Gramineus Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicHoney Extract
HumectantPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Trehalose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Carbomer, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Acorus Gramineus Root/Stem Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMadecassoside
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propanediol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carbomer, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Madecassoside, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Limonene, Linalool
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 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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCarbomer 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer is made up of glycerin and polyacrylic acid. It helps hydrate your skin as a humectant.
This ingredient forms a hydrogel that delivers moisturizing, water-based ingredients to the skin. It is also used to thicken a product and to give it a smooth texture.
Acrylic acid itself is toxic, but the polymer form (this ingredient) is too large to penetrate skin, making it non-toxic.
Learn more about Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid CopolymerPeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterZingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.
Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.
The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:
This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.
Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.
Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract