What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantEctoin
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
AntioxidantTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningScrophularia Nodosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbenia Benedicta Extract
Skin ConditioningViscum Album Leaf Extract
SoothingImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCrataegus Pinnatifida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Ectoin, Ergothioneine, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inulin, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Panthenol, Squalane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Artemisia Annua Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Scrophularia Nodosa Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Carbenia Benedicta Extract, Viscum Album Leaf Extract, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Crataegus Pinnatifida Fruit Extract, Fructose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Cholesterol, Phytosterols, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
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
Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.
The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineAllantoin 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol 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 PanthenolPentylene 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 GlycolSodium 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