What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventBetaine
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantResveratrol
AntioxidantPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonia Acidissima Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBroussonetia Papyrifera Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMadecassoside
AntioxidantRhus Semialata Extract
Skin ConditioningTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantDextran
Nonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningEuglena Gracilis Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Water, Panthenol, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Cyclodextrin, Polydextrose, Resveratrol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate, Alpha-Arbutin, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonia Acidissima Extract, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Broussonetia Papyrifera Bark Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Rhus Semialata Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Dextran, Nonapeptide-1, Euglena Gracilis Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide 5%
SmoothingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingHydrolyzed Centella Asiatica Extract
AntioxidantPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTriacetin
AntimicrobialSqualane
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Butanediol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide 5%, Propylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hydrolyzed Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Squalane, Cholesterol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Butanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dipropylene Glycol
Reviews
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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateNiacinamide 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 PanthenolWater. 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