What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Myristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Polyquaternium-7
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMyristic Acid, Glycerin, Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Polyquaternium-7, Polysorbate 20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Propylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-39
Butylene Glycol
HumectantFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycolic Acid
BufferingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSalicylic Acid
MaskingAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
PreservativeBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Coco-Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Triethanolamine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-39, Butylene Glycol, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Glycolic Acid, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Faex Extract, Niacinamide, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Zinc Gluconate, Methylparaben, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caffeine, Propylparaben, Biotin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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