What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantRibose
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenylpropanol
MaskingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, Ribose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Sorbitan Isostearate, Parfum, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Geraniol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventC15-19 Alkane
SolventDimethicone
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Lupine Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSucrose Palmitate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTin Oxide
AbrasiveHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientDenatonium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMagnesium Chloride
Aluminum Butoxide
StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlucose
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin ConditioningErbium Chloride
Skin ProtectingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantCalcium Chloride
AstringentMagnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingCystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingOrnithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningCoenzyme A
Skin ConditioningSodium Glucuronate
HumectantThiamine Hcl
MaskingRetinyl Acetate
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantNiacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
SmoothingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Dimethicone, Gluconolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Lupine Seed Extract, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891, Sodium Hydroxide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Parfum, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Chlorphenesin, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 80, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sucrose Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Tin Oxide, Hydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Linoleate, Denatonium Benzoate, Benzyl Benzoate, Magnesium Chloride, Aluminum Butoxide, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Glucose, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Erbium Chloride, CI 17200, Superoxide Dismutase, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Ascorbic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Alanine, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Glycine, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Ornithine Hcl, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Proline, Coenzyme A, Sodium Glucuronate, Thiamine Hcl, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamideParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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