What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientZinc Lactate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Zinc Lactate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Benzoyl Peroxide 5%
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Oligopeptide-68
BleachingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantGlutathione
Kojic Acid
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTall Oil Sterol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentArnica Montana Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAzelaic Acid
BufferingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantEchinacea Purpurea Adventitious Root
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingLecithin
EmollientSodium Phytate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Oleate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveSodium Citrate
BufferingDiheptyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientBenzoyl Peroxide 5%, Water, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Oligopeptide-68, Alpha-Arbutin, Glutathione, Kojic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Tall Oil Sterol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Arnica Montana Extract, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Echinacea Purpurea Adventitious Root, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Diheptyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Sorbitan Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Benzoic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinNiacinamide 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 Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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