What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Steareth-21
CleansingPEG-8 Distearate
Emulsifying
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSorbeth-30
EmulsifyingHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Propylene Glycol, Steareth-21, PEG-8 Distearate, Steareth-2, Sorbeth-30, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Ceteareth-12, Parfum, BHT, Piroctone Olamine, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Inulin, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
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 AllantoinCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
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
