What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Betaine, Glycereth-26, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Betaine Salicylate, Gluconolactone, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betula Alba Juice, Maltodextrin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Dextrin
AbsorbentSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Isoleucine
Skin ProtectingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSodium PCA
Humectant
Calcium Pantothenate
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
PCA
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyphosphate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Menadione
MaskingSerine
Masking
Valine
MaskingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Tricalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Silica
Abrasive
Phenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantThiamine Hcl
MaskingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isopentyldiol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Triethylhexanoin, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Adenosine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ferulic Acid, Dextrin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Glutathione, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Ascorbic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Palmitoyl Isoleucine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Resveratrol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sodium PCA, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Lactate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, PCA, Glucose, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyphosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Glycine, Alanine, Sodium Ascorbate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Biotin, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Menadione, Serine, Valine, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Isoleucine, Threonine, Proline, Tricalcium Phosphate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Silica, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Linoleic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-2, Hexapeptide-11, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1
Reviews
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 AllantoinAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 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 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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinSodium 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 Water
