What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Peucedanum Japonicum Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantEschscholzia Californica Leaf Cell Extract
Skin ProtectingSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Unshiu Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Aromaticus Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLauryl Betaine
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingBeheneth-20
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Water, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Squalane, Trehalose, Peucedanum Japonicum Leaf/Stem Extract, Eschscholzia Californica Leaf Cell Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Citrus Unshiu Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Zingiber Aromaticus Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Isostearic Acid, Carbomer, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauryl Betaine, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Beheneth-20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Batyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metaphosphate, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Metabisulfite, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
