What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glutathione
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Arbutin, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfite, Acetyl Tyrosine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glutathione, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingDiglycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Diglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glucose, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorphenesin, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP
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 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylene 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 GlycolStearic 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
