What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSoluble Collagen
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAtelocollagen
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Sorbitan Stearate, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Soluble Collagen, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Atelocollagen
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Chlorphenesin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Propolis Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCentella 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 ExtractDisodium 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 GlycolThis extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.
Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.
Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.
Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.
Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea ExtractTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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