What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Mandelic Acid, Niacinamide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oligopeptide-1, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Salicylic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Isononyl Isononanoate, Retinol, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingZinc PCA
HumectantAzelaic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningKojic Acid
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingGlutathione
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantArbutin
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentResveratrol
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingFragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Azelaic Acid, Propanediol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Kojic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glutathione, Allantoin, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Squalane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Arbutin, Punica Granatum Extract, Resveratrol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidNiacinamide 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 Water