What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingVincetoxicum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChitosan
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Glutathione
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlucosylrutin
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialMadecassoside
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Chitosan, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Phytate, Glutathione, Beta-Glucan, Pentylene Glycol, Glucosylrutin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Ascorbic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ceramide NP, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Madecassoside, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Dipotassium Phosphate, Acetyl Glutamine, Cellulose Gum, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantArginine
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Betaine, Arginine, Sodium Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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