What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Syringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Freesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Chloride
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sucrose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glutathione
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Butylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Caffeine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Trideceth-6, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sucrose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Pantolactone, Polyglutamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Potassium Sorbate, Glutathione, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Mica, Parfum
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Water
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Water, Palmitic Acid, Arginine, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Myristic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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.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 GlycolGlycerin (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 PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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
