What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingProline
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Panthenol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Adenosine, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, C14-22 Alcohols, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Pentylene Glycol, Isopentyldiol, 2,3-Butanediol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Arginine, Carbomer, Proline, Glucose, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCarrageenan
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycerin, Erythritol, Betaine, Arginine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Carrageenan, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract
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.
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 preservatives
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 AllantoinArginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer is made up of glycerin and polyacrylic acid. It helps hydrate your skin as a humectant.
This ingredient forms a hydrogel that delivers moisturizing, water-based ingredients to the skin. It is also used to thicken a product and to give it a smooth texture.
Acrylic acid itself is toxic, but the polymer form (this ingredient) is too large to penetrate skin, making it non-toxic.
Learn more about Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid CopolymerPVM/MA Copolymer is a synthetic and high-molecular weight polymer. It is used to create a flexible film that helps ingredients "stick together" on hair or skin. It also helps reduce static, help emulsions behave, and tweaks the thickness and flow of a product.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in hair styling products because that film is what helps styles last.
Water. 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
