What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract 57%
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingAzadirachta Indica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAdenosine
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingArginine
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantMyristic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract 57%, Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Methyl Trimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Trehalose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Adenosine, Fructooligosaccharides, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Malt Extract, Beta-Glucan, Cholesterol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Palmitic Acid, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Tocopherol, Myristic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientChrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSaccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 NiacinamidePolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is created from the diester of stearic acid and the condensation product of methylglucose and Polyglycerin-3.
As an emulsifier, it is used to bind ingredients together. Many ingredients, such as oils and water, separate naturally. Emulsifiers prevent them from separating to ensure even consistency in texture.
One of the manufacturer for this ingredient states it is vegetable-based. It is also claimed to be stable at both high and low temperatures.
This ingredient may not be safe for fungal acne. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. 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.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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