What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water 5%
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide 5%
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventBetaine
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahydrocurcumin
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water 5%, Niacinamide 5%, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tetrahydrocurcumin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Allantoin, Caffeine, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate-13
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tetrapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Aroma
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Betaine, Isopropyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Glycereth-26, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate-13, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Ceramide NP, Tetrapeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Polyisobutene, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Aroma, Rosa Hybrid Flower 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.
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 AllantoinAmmonium 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 CopolymerBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolysorbate 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 20Water. 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
