What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium PCA
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
PEG-12 Allyl Ether
Sodium Citrate
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDenatonium Benzoate
MaskingOctadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantWater, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Niacinamide, Sodium PCA, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-12 Allyl Ether, Sodium Citrate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Parfum, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Benzoate, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzoic Acid, Denatonium Benzoate, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-100 Stearate
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Niacinamide, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, T-Butyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water