What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentInulin
Skin ConditioningSwertia Chirata Extract
HumectantArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingBenzylsulfonyl D-Seryl Homophenylalanine Amidinobenzamide Acetate
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Squalane, Propanediol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Betaine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Maltodextrin, Inulin, Swertia Chirata Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Benzylsulfonyl D-Seryl Homophenylalanine Amidinobenzamide Acetate, Trehalose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Polyglutamic Acid, Panthenol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantYeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid
AstringentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantGlutathione
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingInulin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingDiamond Powder
AbrasivePhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingLeucine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSerine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingThreonine
Valine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveDextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlumina
AbrasiveCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Phytate
Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Yeast Ferment Extract, Madecassoside, Tranexamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Glutathione, Panthenol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Inulin, Adenosine, Ubiquinone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Diamond Powder, Phenylalanine, Proline, Glycine, Leucine, Arginine, Serine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Threonine, Valine, Alanine, Lysine, Tyrosine, Cysteine, Methionine, Carbomer, Silica, Dextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate, Tromethamine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alumina, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77891, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Phytate
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.
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
Betaine 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolInulin is a polysaccharide (carbohydrate) with prebiotic and antioxidant properties.
The majority of inulin is extracted from chicory, but can also be obtained from other plants such as garlic, onion, asparagus, and sugarcane.
Studies show inulin may help with controlling your skin's natural microbiota when applied topically.
The antioxidant potential of inulin varies depending on the source.
Learn more about InulinThis ingredient is made when the Lactobacillus bacteria (the same kind that makes yogurt and kimchi) are allowed to ferment a nutrient medium.
As it ferments, it collects lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, and other bioactive metabolites to provide:
A 2023 review noted that probiotic fermentation ingredients like this one can enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce UV-induced oxidative damage, and support barrier function.
One clinical study from the same year showed a Lactobacillus ferment lysate significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and improved skin hydration.
Another review highlighted that topical Lactobacillus-based preparations can improve ceramide levels in the stratum corneum, support barrier integrity, and even help reduce S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.
Why is this so cool?
Basically, your skin's outer layer works as a brick wall; skin cells are bricks and ceramides are the mortar holding it together. Moisture escapes, irritants get in, and your skin gets dry and reactive when ceramide levels drop. On top of that, "bad" skin bacteria S. aureus loves to move in when your barrier is weak to make inflammation and irritation worse.
So Lactobacillus ferment is basically patching the wall and evicting the troublemaker when it boosts ceramide production and help keep S. aureus in check.
On top of all this, it also acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative booster.
Just so you know, most studies focus on specific strains or the lysate form rather than this generic "Lactobacillus Ferment", so results can vary.
Though it's a promising ingredient, it doesn't have decades of robust clinical data behind it just yet.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentNiacinamide 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 Water