What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Ectoin, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientIsopentyldiol
HumectantSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEctoin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolyglycerin-6
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingWater, Azelaic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Isopentyldiol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ectoin, Fructooligosaccharides, Inulin, C15-19 Alkane, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglycerin-6, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ectoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.
This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells.
When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more.
Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare:
A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light.
Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution.
In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with:
Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient.
Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient.
The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid.
Learn more about EctoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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