What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Betaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethiconol, Sodium Polyacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Allantoin, Trehalose, Polysorbate 20, Polyglutamic Acid, Xylitol, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
C10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Phytate
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Callus Extracellular Vesicles
Hexyl Laurate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasivePanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingGlycosphingolipids
EmollientSucrose
HumectantSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningMineral Salts
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglycerin-3, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Callus Extracellular Vesicles, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tocopherol, Silica, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Stearic Acid, Glycosphingolipids, Sucrose, Sodium Dna, Disodium EDTA, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hexapeptide-9, Mineral Salts, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1, Propolis Extract, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinStearic 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