What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Leucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningMannitol
Humectant
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isopentyldiol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyglutamic Acid, Allantoin, Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylpropanediol, Beta-Glucan, Trehalose, Arginine, Alanine, Tyrosine, Histidine, Leucine, Methionine, Mannitol, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Caffeine, Zinc Gluconate, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Polyacrylate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Adenosine, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Kernel Extract
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Fructan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Eucommia Ulmoides Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Torreya Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Fructan, Glucose, Eucommia Ulmoides Bark Extract, Torreya Nucifera Extract, Allantoin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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
