What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycereth-26
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glutathione
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingSargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Xylitol, Niacinamide, Glutathione, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Allantoin, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetrimonium Bromide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Gluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Phytic Acid
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Water, Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Gluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Allantoin, Betaine, Phytic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Cetrimonium Bromide
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 AllantoinCetrimonium Bromide is a preservative.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer is also known as Poly Suga®Mulse D9 (We'll call is SODC for short).
SODC is a nonionic fragrance solubilizer. A solubilizer blends small amounts of oils into water-based formulas. It is especially good at solubilizing fragrances in water-only systems.
SODC does not contain PEGs. It is hydrophilic, meaning it has the tendency to mix with water.
In products, SODC acts as an emulsifer by blending waters and oils.
Learn more about Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside CrosspolymerWater. 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
