What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAgave Americana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Asiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingCopaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Flower Oil
MaskingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingFerula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
AntimicrobialThuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Agave Americana Stem Extract, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Niacinamide, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Asiatic Acid, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Bisabolol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Rose Flower Oil, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantSea Water
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Octyldodeceth-16, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Madecassoside, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Ceramide NP
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
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneNiacinamide 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