What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAkebia Quinata Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingPhyllostachys Bambusoides Juice
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
CleansingMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Juice
AstringentInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Carbomer, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Menthoxypropanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Akebia Quinata Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Betula Alba Juice, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Xylitol, Tocopherol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract 90.1%
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
AntioxidantGinkgo Biloba Leaf Water
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Water
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingAniba Rosodora Wood Oil
AstringentLinalool
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract 90.1%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Allantoin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Water, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Carbomer, Water, Xylitol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Linalool
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Carbomer is used to thicken products and create a gel-like consistency.
It is synthetically created from carbomer and sodium salt.
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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about Xylitol