What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingDiglycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dianthus Chinensis Extract
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Magnolol
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Diglycerin, Panthenol, Propanediol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Allantoin, Adenosine, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Propylene Glycol, Dianthus Chinensis Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Glucose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lecithin, Magnolol, Madecassoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Asiaticoside, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingMirabilis Jalapa Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
Propanediol
Solvent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Amodimethicone, Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Laureth-7, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Propanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Olivate
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 AllantoinBisabolol 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 GlycolCaprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
