What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Powder
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Chlorella Vulgaris Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Powder
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
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 GlycerinWater. 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
