What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantTriacontanyl Pvp
HumectantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ectoin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMaris Aqua
HumectantXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhormidium Persicinum Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C14-22 Alcohols, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycereth-26, Triacontanyl Pvp, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Caprylate, Steareth-21, Tocopheryl Acetate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ectoin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maris Aqua, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phormidium Persicinum Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract
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 AllantoinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidWater. 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