What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingProtease
ExfoliatingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantRubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientTropolone
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTrideceth-10
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil
Skin ConditioningBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Oil
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Betaine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Protease, Panthenol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Tropolone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trideceth-10, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil, Bioflavonoids, Geranium Maculatum Oil
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
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 AllantoinBetaine 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 GlycolCentella 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 ExtractCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Dipropylene 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 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 PanthenolSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer and used to help stabilize other ingredients.
Emulsion stabilizers hold ingredients together, helping to create an even texture throughout the product.
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate can also be used to thicken the texture.
Learn more about Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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