What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPEG-9 Diglycidyl Ether/Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, PEG-9 Diglycidyl Ether/Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSea Water
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSecale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasiveEctoin
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingPyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingHibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPanicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Methyl Gluceth-10, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Allantoin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Pentylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Panthenol, Royal Jelly, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Viola Tricolor Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sea Water, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Ectoin, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Disodium EDTA, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Xanthan Gum
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAllantoin 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 AllantoinButylene 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 Leaf Extract comes from the leaves of an herb plant native to Southeast Asia. Centella Asiatica is rich in antioxidants and amino acids. It can help reduce irritation and soothe the skin.
Many active components found in centella asiatica, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside, encourage the skin to naturally produce hyaluronic acid. This helps keep our skin hydrated. Many of these components also show antioxidant activity and may help reduce the signs of aging.
Research shows centella asiatica can help increase Type I collagen production by increasing fibroblast production. Fibroblast helps form connective tissue.
The combination of all these properties makes centella asiatica leaf extract effective at soothing the skin.
Other components of centella asiatica leaf extract include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Recent studies found madecassoside may help prevent damage from UV rays by preventing UV-induced inflammation. Further research is needed.
This plant 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 Leaf ExtractGlycerin (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 PanthenolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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