What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Retinol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentBHT
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBHA
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningWater, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglutamic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Retinol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, BHT, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, BHA, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPentapeptide-3
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Collagen Extract, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Soluble Collagen, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dipeptide-2, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Nonapeptide-1, Pentapeptide-3, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Hexapeptide-11, Oligopeptide-1, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 is a synthetic lipopeptide. This just means it's a short chain of six amino acids with a palmitic acid molecule attached to one end.
The palmitoyl group increases the lipophilicity, helping it penetrate the lipid-rich outer layer of skin more effectively.
Once inside, it helps with keeping skin springy and firm. It works by mimicking the skin repair signals your skin naturally sends out when it's damaged and telling it to kick into rebuild mode.
Studies have shown it can help strengthen the skin barrier as well so it's useful beyond just anti-aging.
In vitro studies suggest it can switch on genes that help skin cells grow, move around, and rebuild skin structure. Just keep in mind most of the strong evidence is from lab studies rather than large-scale clinical trials.
Lab studies suggest it can switch on genes that help skin cells grow, move around, and rebuild skin structure.
This ingredient is usually used at very low concentrations (0.002% in leave-on products).
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Water. 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