What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantOlus Oil
EmollientOleyl Erucate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingHistidine
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Phenylalanine
MaskingValine
MaskingPCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientXylitol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeFarnesol
PerfumingLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Betaine, Olus Oil, Oleyl Erucate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Proline, Serine, Isoleucine, Threonine, Phenylalanine, Valine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Aspartic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Xylitol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Anhydroxylitol, Butylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Lactate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Caramel, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Farnesol, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButyl Avocadate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Betaine
HumectantBenincasa Cerifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningOleyl Erucate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantGlycereth-26
HumectantLecithin
EmollientPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Butyl Avocadate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Betaine, Benincasa Cerifera Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Oleyl Erucate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bisabolol, Glycereth-26, Lecithin, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
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 AllantoinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinOleyl Erucate is created from oleyl alcohol and erucic acid. It mainly functions as an emollient.
Emollients help soften and hydrate the skin by forming a lightweight film on skin that reduces water loss and improves feel.
In some cases, Oleyl Erucate is used as a solvent or dispersing agent to help make formulations easier to spread.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Oleyl ErucatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
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