What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Mannitol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSucrose
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Potassium Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Mannitol, Tranexamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sucrose, Zea Mays Starch, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Pentylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingClitoria Ternatea Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingSarcosine
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Seed Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingActinidia Chinensis Seed
AbrasiveSalicylic Acid 0.01%
MaskingFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialVitis Vinifera Skin Extract
AntioxidantVitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
PerfumingWater, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract, Triethanolamine, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Sarcosine, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Seed, Salicylic Acid 0.01%, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera Skin Extract, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf
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 Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerAllantoin 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 AllantoinCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
Sodium 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