What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantRaspberry Ketone
MaskingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCalamine
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Trehalose, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylene Brassylate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Allantoin, Dextrin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Madecassoside, Raspberry Ketone, Linalyl Acetate, Gluconolactone, Calamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingJojoba Esters
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCalamine
AbsorbentRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventMadecassoside
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclohexasiloxane, Vinyldimethicone, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Jojoba Esters, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Calamine, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Glucoside, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Cyanocobalamin, Propanediol, Madecassoside, Citric Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Carbomer
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
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCalamine is a "pink powder" that is used to calm itchy or irritated skin. In official medical standards, calamine is basically almost all zinc oxide with a tiny bit of iron oxide added for the pink color.
Lab testing requires that it’s at least 98% zinc oxide, which just means it has to be very pure and mostly zinc oxide.
In skincare, calamine can help relieve itches, calm skin, and absorb excess moisture/oil. This is why you'll often see it used for oozing rashes. Calamine is approved as a skin protectant active at 1-25% in US OTC drug products.
A big part of calamine's soothing effect comes from zinc oxide's protective properties. Since calamine can absorb excess moisture/oil, it might be drying for already dry skin types.
A review of topical medicament allergies notes that contact dermatitis from calamine isn't typically reported, but added actives in a formulation are known sensitizers.
Learn more about CalamineCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDipropylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePanthenol 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 Water