What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCanola Oil
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTimonacic
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-40
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBHA
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Fructan
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Canola Oil, Cyclohexasiloxane, Panthenol, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Allantoin, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Timonacic, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract, Calcium Hydroxide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, Polysilicone-11, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, BHA, Decyl Glucoside, Fructan, Citric Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethyl Caprylate
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Panthenol, Piroctone Olamine, Allantoin, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Carbomer, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Arginine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Propylene Glycol, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This synthetic peptide is made up of four amino acids designed to calm redness and irritation. It also goes by the name Telangyn.
Your skin has a built-in defense system that fights off bacteria and responds to damage; part of that system involves a natural peptide called LL-37. LL-37 usually does its job and moves on, but sometimes it can go into overdrive (especially in reactive or rosacea skin) and triggers too much inflammation. This is where redness, visible blood vessels, and irritation come from.
That's where Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40 comes in. It turns down the signals that cause this inflammatory overreaction. As a bonus, keeping inflammation in check also protects collagen and other structural proteins from being broken down by enzymes.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient also calms UV-related inflammation and helps reduce excess pigment production.
This ingredient is considered safe for all skin types and has been shown to work at low concentrations (0.05%).
Learn more about Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40Allantoin 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 AllantoinThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Panthenol 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 PanthenolPotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateWater. 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
