What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Sodium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Caffeine, Octyldodeceth-16, Panthenol, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
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 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 GlycerinSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractWater. 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
