What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-33
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantPEG-14
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Oil
EmollientAvena Sativa Bran Extract
AbrasiveSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-33, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, PEG-14, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Capryloyl/Caproyl Anhydro Methyl Glucamide
SolventGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Proline
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitral
PerfumingWater, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-10, Capryloyl/Caproyl Anhydro Methyl Glucamide, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Rice Amino Acids, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Proline, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citral
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 AllantoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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