What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantErythritol
HumectantChondrus Crispus
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Sodium PCA, Erythritol, Chondrus Crispus, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Niacinamide, Pisum Sativum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPersea Gratissima Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingPisum Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingWater, Sodium Polyacrylate, Trideceth-6, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Persea Gratissima Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract, Rosa Canina Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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