What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantTamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Soy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Propanediol
Solvent
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Panthenol, Squalane, Soy Amino Acids, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Propanediol, Yeast Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Stevia Rebaudiana Extract
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Stevia Rebaudiana Extract, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Titanium Dioxide, Allantoin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Laureth-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 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 or alcohol, 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 GlycerinSodium 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
