What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientOleic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyurethane-15
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Squalane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAcetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Surfactin
CleansingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Oleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Ceramide AP, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyurethane-15, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Allantoin, Arginine, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Acetylphytosphingosine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Surfactin, Phytosphingosine, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLeonurus Sibiricus Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentMadecassoside
AntioxidantIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentSodium Phytate
Propanediol
SolventGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCutibacterium Granulosum Ferment Extract Filtrate
EmollientBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Leonurus Sibiricus Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Tromethamine, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Aspartic Acid, Allantoin, Dextrin, Sodium Phytate, Propanediol, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Methionine, Carbomer, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Cutibacterium Granulosum Ferment Extract Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAllantoin 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 AllantoinArginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene 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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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