What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid
AstringentSilica
AbrasiveC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhysalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientSodium Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlucose
HumectantPhenylpropanol
MaskingPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantBHA
AntioxidantWater, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Arginine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tranexamic Acid, Silica, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, C14-22 Alcohols, Butylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Physalis Angulata Extract, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Squalane, Sodium Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Glucose, Phenylpropanol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, BHT, BHA
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Propylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientPEG-20
HumectantPEG-8 Laurate
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningOleamide
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingBHT
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol Denat., Niacinamide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Silica, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, PEG-20, PEG-8 Laurate, Zinc PCA, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Oleamide, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Carnosine, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose Cocoate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, BHT, Salicylic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTDisodium 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 NiacinamideSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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 WaterZinc PCA (or "zinc salt") differs slightly from zinc itself. PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. However, Zinc PCA comes from zinc.
It can help reduce redness, regulate sebum, and promote the general healing process of the skin.
Zinc PCA tends to be especially useful for those with oily, acne-prone skin. It's certainly an ingredient worth trying out!
Learn more about Zinc PCA