What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingWater
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrideceth-10
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Zingerone
AntioxidantHexapeptide-2
BleachingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingSclareolide
MaskingSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberSqualane
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantMethylpropanediol
SolventSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyresveratrol
BleachingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trideceth-10, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Acetyl Zingerone, Hexapeptide-2, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Sclareolide, Sorbitan Palmitate, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Squalane, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Methylpropanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Hydroxyresveratrol, Polyglutamic Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Parfum
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientPullulan
Sorbitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantScenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCI 77480
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
BufferingGlutathione
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bisabolol, Ferulic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, CI 77480, Citric Acid, Glutathione
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
Glycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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