What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Succinic Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Water, Sodium Lactate, Succinic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Linolenic Acid
Allium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Heparin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllium Cepa Bulb Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Heparin, Panthenol, Allantoin, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Gluconolactone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 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
