What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingKigelia Africana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Sorbitan Laurate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Limonene, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Laurate, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningPichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
AntioxidantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningOxidized Glutathione
EmollientUbiquinone
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethyl Sulfone
SolventSea Water
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
BufferingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Beta-Glucan, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Ergothioneine, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Oxidized Glutathione, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Sea Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Malic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseNiacinamide 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.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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