What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hexanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Squalane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cyanocobalamin, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Ceramide Ns, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diglycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glucose
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diglycerin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 80, Triethanolamine, Ectoin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sorbitan Oleate, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, Glucose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root 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.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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
