What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-24-Glycereth-24
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAtractylodes Macrocephala Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientSaposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract
AntimicrobialAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Lactobionic Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingQuaternium-73
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingZinc PCA
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Gluconolactone, Triethanolamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Niacinamide, Sclerotium Gum, Atractylodes Macrocephala Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Lactobionic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Isohexadecane, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Quaternium-73, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Zinc PCA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 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.
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