What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSqualane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Odorata Root Extract
RefreshingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingMichelia Alba Flower Oil
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Michelia Alba Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Sodium Citrate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeWater, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sucrose, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Phenoxyethanol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citronellol, Geraniol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid
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 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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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