What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Bambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPrunus Avium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Cerasus Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningVinegar
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Charcoal Powder, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Prunus Avium Fruit Extract, Prunus Cerasus Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bioflavonoids, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Carbomer, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Vinegar, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXylitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glucose, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Sucrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Betaine, Squalane, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Xylitol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate
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 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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
