What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Succinic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Swertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethyl Sulfone
SolventMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Vinyldimethicone
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Betaine Salicylate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Succinic Acid, Lactic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Swertia Japonica Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Potassium Hydroxide, Dimethyl Sulfone, Maltodextrin, Vinyldimethicone, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextrin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhytic Acid
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether
CleansingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Water, Mandelic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Propanediol, Potassium Hydroxide, Phytic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Succinoglycan, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin
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 AllantoinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
