What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCaprylic Acid
CleansingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantBetulin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Betulin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingNiacinamide
SmoothingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentChondrus Crispus
MaskingPotassium Chloride
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Glutathione
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Collagen, Niacinamide, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glucomannan, Maltodextrin, Chondrus Crispus, Potassium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Glutathione, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin, Thiamine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Citric Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside
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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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