What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMannitol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingXylitol
HumectantRhamnose
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Mannitol, Polysorbate 20, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Sodium Citrate, Polyquaternium-51, Fructooligosaccharides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
SolventC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMannitol
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lactate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Mannitol, Lactic Acid, Chlorphenesin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinMannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.
When found in aqueous solutions, mannitol tends to become acidic. This is because it loses a hydrogen ion. This is why mannitol can often be found with pH adjusting ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate.
Fun fact: Mannitol can be found in foods as a sweetener. It can be naturally found in mushrooms, algae, fruits, and veggies.
Learn more about MannitolNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideWater. 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