What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingRetinal
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingOzothamnus Diosmifolius Extract
Disodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cholesterol, Tromethamine, Retinal, Parfum, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ozothamnus Diosmifolius Extract, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPEG-20
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientRetinal
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSodium PCA
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phospholipids, PEG-20, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Retinal, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ceramide NP, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Sodium PCA, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Lactic Acid
Reviews
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 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 NiacinamideRetinal (aka retinaldehyde) is a form of retinoid that formulators use mainly as an antiaging and skin-renewing active.
What makes it special is its position in the retinoid family; skin converts it to retinoic acid (the prescription gold standard) in just one step.
Because retinal only requires 1 conversion step to become retinoic acid, it's the strongest over-the-counter retinoid. It also works at lower concentrations than retinol, since retinal is about 10x more bioavailable.
Studies back up its efficacy in skin:
A foundational trial showed that applying 0.05-0.5% retinal for 1-3 months produced a dose-dependent and significant increase in epidermal thickness + cell turnover markers.
And a head-to-head comparison of 0.05% retinal against a 0.05% retinoid acid found both formulations were effective for the basis of wrinkle/skin roughness features, but retinoic acid caused more local irritation.
More recent controlled trials confirm it improves wrinkles, dermal density, and firmness over 12-24 weeks, with significant improvements in skin texture and firmness (particularly with the higher 0.1% concentration).
Retinal also has one trick the other retinoids do not: it directly fights against acne bacteria since a clinical study showed retinaldehyde-treated areas displayed a significant decrease in counts of viable P. acnes.
This makes it a great pick for people who want to treat aging and breakouts.
Typical cosmetic use sits in the 0.05-0.1% range with 0.05% being the gentle starting point and 0.1% giving stronger results.
Like all retinoids, retinal works best with nightly use, a good moisturizer, and daytime sunscreen. It can cause some irritation so ease into it slowly rather than going all in.
The "ramp up" method works well: start with Retinal 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 RetinalWater. 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