What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Butylene Glycol, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glucose, Allantoin, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Water
MaskingSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C12-13 Pareth-9
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantXylitol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Bellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Water, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-13 Pareth-9, 1,2-Hexanediol, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Xylitol, Gluconolactone, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Trehalose, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root 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.
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 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 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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
