What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Squalane
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientHexyl Laurate
EmollientSodium Phytate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Mentha Viridis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Stellaria Media Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Hexyl Laurate, Sodium Phytate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Dna, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glutathione, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSwiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantFructan
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingLactobionic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructan, Allantoin, Adenosine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Xylitol, Salicylic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Mentha Piperita Oil
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 NiacinamideSodium 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 Water