What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentGarcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingRetinol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCinchona Calisaya Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLeptospermum Scoparium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientGlyceryl Arachidonate
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSucrose
HumectantThiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningRice Ferment Filtrate, Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Betaine, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Garcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Polyglutamic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Malt Extract, Retinol, Panthenol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cinchona Calisaya Bark Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium Leaf Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Retinyl Palmitate, Biotin, Sucrose, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolWater. 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