What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentCollagen
Moisturising
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Escin
TonicGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetearyl Stearate, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Cyclodextrin, Collagen, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Beta-Glucan, Escin, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Trehalose, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Water
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysilicone-11
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-49
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Polysilicone-11, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Resveratrol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-49, Ubiquinone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Phospholipids, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinal, Retinol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, 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 AllantoinEthylhexylglycerin 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 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
