What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Water
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingCellulose
AbsorbentPotassium Myristate
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPrunus Persica Seed Powder
AbrasiveHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyquaternium-22
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Dextrin
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentLinolenic Acid
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Prunus Persica Fruit Water, Glycerin, Potassium Laurate, Cellulose, Potassium Myristate, Acrylates Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Prunus Persica Seed Powder, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-22, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Dextrin, Niacinamide, Cyanocobalamin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Linolenic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingCoconut Acid
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-67
Houttuynia Cordata Powder
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Salicylic Acid
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantDextrin
AbsorbentCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentGlycerin, Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coconut Acid, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Polyquaternium-67, Houttuynia Cordata Powder, Coptis Japonica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dextrin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract
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.
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 preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate is a modified starch used to help thicken a product.
It is also used in foods.
Niacinamide 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