What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientDimethyl Mea
BufferingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantThioctic Acid
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientResveratrol
AntioxidantCopper PCA
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Stearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Dimethyl Mea, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thioctic Acid, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Resveratrol, Copper PCA, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caffeine, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Betaine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and is rich in antioxidants.
While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.
Learn more about CaffeineEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
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. 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