What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-12 Allyl Ether
PEG-12
HumectantCystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alpha-Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium PCA, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AllantoinAlpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinButylene 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 GlycolDMDM Hydantoin has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is a preservative that works by slowly releasing formaldehyde over time.
So what's formaldehyde?
DMDM Hydantoin is approved for use in cosmetics all around the world.
In the EU, this ingredient is allowed in personal products up to 0.6 percent.
You might have heard of the class-action lawsuit about it causing hair loss. According to chemists, there has not been a link found between this ingredient and hair loss.
The Hydantoin part of this ingredient is created by reacting glycolic acid and urea.
You can check out alternatives to Dmdm Hydantoin:
phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
