What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingVegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Betaine, Allantoin, Carbomer, Panthenol, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cellulose Gum, Adenosine, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Vegetable Amino Acids, Proline, Hydroxyproline
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tripeptide-29
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-44
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Panthenol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Polyglutamic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Adenosine, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Tripeptide-29, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Tetrapeptide-44, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Chlorphenesin, Parfum
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAllantoin 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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium 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 Hyaluronate