What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glutathione
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Aminobutyric Acid
Sh-Polypeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantPichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Manganese PCA
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Cysteine, Allantoin, Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glutathione, Ergothioneine, Aminobutyric Acid, Sh-Polypeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propylene Glycol, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Sodium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Zinc PCA, Maltodextrin, Manganese PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Citric 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.
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 AllantoinAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractBiosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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
