What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMontmorillonite
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Aluminometasilicate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientVolcanic Soil
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentBisabolol
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingGentiana Scabra Extract
HumectantAmylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingPyrus Malus Bark Extract
AstringentCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
PreservativeGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Montmorillonite, Glycerin, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, CI 77891, Magnesium Aluminometasilicate, Glyceryl Stearate, Volcanic Soil, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Bisabolol, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Trehalose, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Parfum, Ceramide NP, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Gentiana Scabra Extract, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Pyrus Malus Bark Extract, Ceramide Ns, Propylparaben, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveKaolin
AbrasiveBentonite
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantCanadian Colloidal Clay
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentMethylparaben
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantPropylparaben
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Canadian Colloidal Clay, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77288, Propylparaben, Butylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Portulaca Oleracea 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 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPropylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
This ingredient can be naturally found in plants and insects, but most of it is synthetically manufactured for human use. In cosmetics, it is usually created by reacting para-aminobenzoic acid and propanol (an alcohol).
You can usually find this ingredient in water-based products.
Parabens have come under controversy due to the claim they are hormone disruptors. Studies show conflicting results. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Propylparaben is commonly found in food, medicine, and cosmetics.
Learn more about PropylparabenWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum