What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Arctium Majus Root Water
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Arctium Majus Root Water, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Isoamyl Laurate, Polysorbate 20, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Volcanic Ash
Abrasive
Avena Sativa Kernel Meal
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Kaolin, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Volcanic Ash, Avena Sativa Kernel Meal, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycolic Acid, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coconut Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid
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 AllantoinCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract comes from the common Marigold plant part of the Asteraceae family. This ingredient is a skin conditioner.
Marigolds contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of substances found naturally in plants. They possess antioxidant and inflammation properties.
This ingredient soothes skin inflammation by inhibiting inhibiting a part of the inflammation process.
Marigolds have been used in traditional medicine throughout Asia and Europe.
Learn more about Calendula Officinalis Flower ExtractDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate is a surfactant and helps cleanse skin. It is created from the fatty acids of coconut oil.
Surfactants help rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants easily from skin. It has a faint fruit-like scent.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
