What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Arginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingCetraria Islandica Extract
CleansingHimanthalia Elongata Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Vinyldimethicone, Glycine Soja Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Arginine, Carbomer, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Retinol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Cetraria Islandica Extract, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningCordyceps Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirodela Polyrhiza Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPolyisobutene
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Propolis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Royal Jelly Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Spirodela Polyrhiza Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Glyceryl Glucoside, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Polyisobutene, Sodium Carbomer, Glycerin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Glucose, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Silica, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Beta-Carotene, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Citral
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 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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