What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialBetaine
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlucosylrutin
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Mentha Viridis Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Hexylresorcinol, Betaine, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucosylrutin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientArbutin
AntioxidantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Petrolatum
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Glycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenylpropanol
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Arbutin, Behenyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Cyclohexasiloxane, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Petrolatum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate is a version of ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C.
This ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
It helps with dark spot fading by interfering with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. Like other forms of vitamin C, this ingredient encourages the skin to create more collagen.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
One study found Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate to degrade in sunlight, but is stabilized when combined with acetyl zingerone.
Learn more about Ascorbyl TetraisopalmitateWe don't have a description for Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment yet.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract comes from the seabuckthorn berry. This berry is native to Asia and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
The seabuckthorn fruit contains carotenoids, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, Vitamin C, linoleic acid, and vitamin E.
The nutritious content of seabuckthorn fruit helps hydrate and nourish the skin. A study from 2018 found seabuckthorn may help with alleviating UV damage due to its anti-inflammatory property. However, it should not replace your sunscreen.
Due to its antioxidant properties, seabuckthorn fruit may help reduce the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight unstable free-radical molecules, or molecules that may damage your skin cells.
Learn more about Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit ExtractNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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