What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
PEG-7 Olive Glycerides
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Mannitol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Hexylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG-7 Olive Glycerides, Glycerin, Propanediol, Mannitol, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Xylitol, Allantoin, Cetrimonium Bromide, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Glycolate
BufferingDMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pyridoxine
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Menadione
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Glycolate, DMDM Hydantoin, Allantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pyridoxine, Thiamine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Bioflavonoids, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Glutathione, Menadione, Riboflavin, Tocopheryl Acetate
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 PanthenolPropylene 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 GlycolWater. 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
