What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingDiisostearyl Malate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolypropylsilsesquioxane
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRetinal 0.1%
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlucose
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Diisostearyl Malate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lecithin, Carbomer, Arginine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Retinal 0.1%, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Lactate, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Ascorbic Acid, Glucose, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingCalamine
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethyl Sulfone
SolventCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGloiopeltis Furcata Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingColloidal Sulfur
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCamphor
MaskingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantLecithin
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveLinoleic Acid
CleansingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSarcosine
Skin Conditioning4-Terpineol
MaskingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat., Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Calamine, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Sulfone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Gloiopeltis Furcata Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicylic Acid, Colloidal Sulfur, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Allantoin, Camphor, Fructooligosaccharides, Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Silica, Linoleic Acid, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phospholipids, Hexylene Glycol, Sarcosine, 4-Terpineol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol
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.
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 preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about 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 NiacinamideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum