What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
EmulsifyingIsosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Glutamic Acid
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantMaltose
MaskingFructose
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientTriolein
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Glycosphingolipids, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Proline, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Betaine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Triolein, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAlthaea Officinalis Flower Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Laurate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Althaea Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 AllantoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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