What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Harungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic Acid
CleansingElaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Tetrasodium EDTA
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Alpha-Arbutin, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Retinal, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Phragmites Karka Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Caprylic Acid, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Poria Cocos Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Copper Tripeptide-1, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingPei-10
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Lauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Allantoin, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglutamic Acid, Bisabolol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Silica, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polysorbate 20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Triethanolamine, Pei-10, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Zea Mays Starch, Lauryl Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, BHA, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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 AllantoinEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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
