What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
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Benefits
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Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantStaphylococcus Epidermidis Ferment Filtrate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCrithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingNiacinamide
SmoothingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDiamond Powder
AbrasiveBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicGlycine
BufferingProline
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Magnesium Chloride
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Staphylococcus Epidermidis Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Niacinamide, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Diamond Powder, Biotin, Glycine, Proline, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Triethyl Citrate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Magnesium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Seed Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Citrate
BufferingLespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningSilver Oxide
AntimicrobialWater, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Trehalose, Panthenol, Salvia Officinalis Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Silver Oxide
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.
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 AllantoinBeta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexylglycerin 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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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