What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylamide
Tromethamine
BufferingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Algae Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Polyacrylamide, Tromethamine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Laureth-7, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Copper Gluconate, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCinnamomum Cassia Bark
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingRhus Semialata Gall Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialYeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantMentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Albumen
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantHistidine
HumectantLysine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Yeast Ferment Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Mentha Haplocalix Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Albumen, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Histidine, Lysine, Proline, Serine, Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Threonine, Valine, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol
Alternatives
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.
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 preservatives
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 AllantoinAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract is from the Roman Chamomile flower. It helps soothe the skin and contains antioxidants.
Butylene 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 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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.
Water. 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