What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCellulose
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sea Water
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Protease
Exfoliating
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-26
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Cellulose, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Protease, Lactobionic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tromethamine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycereth-26, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
CI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Diglycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Papain
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Powder
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Protease
Exfoliating
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Oryza Sativa Seed Protein
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch, CI 77004, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Diglycerin, Allantoin, Water, Maltodextrin, Papain, Oryza Sativa Powder, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Glucose, Oryza Sativa Extract, Protease, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Tartaric Acid, Lactic Acid, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylyl Glycol
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinThese enzymes break down protein into smaller peptides and amino acids. They also encourage the formation of new protein.
Our skin uses peptides, amino acids, and protein for maintaining healthy skin cells.
Protease work by breaking peptide bonds in protein with hydrolysis. This is the process of breaking bonds using water.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found a blend of 3-protease decreases skin inflammation by mitigating the effects of other proteins.
One manufacturer that uses subtilisin, a protease from Bacillus subtilis, claims this ingredient is exfoliating, promotes cell regeneration, and is a good substitute for AHAs. Further research is needed to back up these claims.
Fun fact: The human body contains ~641 protease genes.
Learn more about ProteaseWater. 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
