What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Erythritol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningLamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tranexamic Acid, Erythritol, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Lamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract 57%
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Allium Sativum Bulb Extract 3%
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Dextrin
AbsorbentCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract 57%, Butylene Glycol, 2,3-Butanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Water, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract 3%, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Erythritol, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-10, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sclerotium Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Dextrin, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Cellulose, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer
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 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerYou might know this ingredient as a sugar substitute in foods. It is a sugar alcohol with humectant properties.
Humectants attract water to your skin (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid).
Fun fact: Erythritol can be naturally found in some fermented foods.
Learn more about ErythritolGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
