What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAscorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningAscorbylpropyl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate
Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Cocamide DEA, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Salicylic Acid, Parfum, Citric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Ascorbylpropyl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
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 AllantoinCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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