What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-240
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWine Extract
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentFragaria Vesca Leaf Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Cnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, PEG-240, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Wine Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Fragaria Vesca Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Paeonia Officinalis Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Prunus Mume Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Guaiazulene, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin Conditioning7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Allantoin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Madecassoside, Ectoin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Beta-Glucan, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Inonotus Obliquus Extract
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 GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, antiāinflammatory, 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 GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
