What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantMethylpropanediol
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHectorite
AbsorbentCellulose
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-26
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantProtease
Exfoliating
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Canadian Colloidal Clay
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, CI 77004, Methylpropanediol, Silica, Dipropylene Glycol, Hectorite, Cellulose, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, CI 77891, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, CI 77492, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 77499, Protease, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Allantoin, CI 77491, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Canadian Colloidal Clay, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Bambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPrunus Avium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Cerasus Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningVinegar
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Charcoal Powder, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Prunus Avium Fruit Extract, Prunus Cerasus Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bioflavonoids, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Carbomer, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Vinegar, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
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
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
