What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosa Damascena Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Disodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Acetate
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaproic Acid
Cleansing
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningMenadione
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acetate, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caproic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Retinol, Riboflavin, Biotin, Bioflavonoids, Cyanocobalamin, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Menadione
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
Disodium 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 EDTANiacinamide 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 NiacinamideRetinol is one of the most studied anti-aging ingredients in skincare (and for good reason!).
It's a form of vitamin A that your skin converts to Retinoic Acid, the active molecule that actually does the work in your cells.
Once converted, it binds to receptors that switch on genes controlling how skin cells behave. In practice, this means a few things happen in a formula. It:
The research backs this up as well.
A pooled analysis of six clinical studies found that 0.1% stabilized retinol improved signs of photoaging as early as week 4 and through 12 weeks without causing major irritation.
Another study comparing concentrations found that 0.1 and 0.3% retinol were similarly effective at remodeling photodamaged skin, but 0.3% was associated with fewer adverse reactions when used daily (a useful reminder that more isn't always better).
Retinol is about tenfold less potent than Retinoic Acid which is why it works as a gentler, non-prescription option that builds results over time.
Typical concentrations range from 0.1-1%, with 0.1% to 0.3% being a well-supported sweet spot for visible benefits with good tolerability.
The most common side effects are mild and temporary: usually some dryness, redness, or light peeling as your skin adjusts. These tend to settle with consistent and lower-frequency use.
Like all retinoids, retinol works best with nightly use, a good moisturizer, and daytime sunscreen.
The "ramp up" method works well: start with Retinol once a week to give your skin time to adjust, which keeps irritation low.
Slowly add more nights until you reach your goal frequency once your skin feels comfortable.
Retinoids also make your skin more sensitive to the sun in the first few weeks, so wear sunscreen every morning and protect your skin from direct sun while you build up tolerance.
Learn more about Retinol
