What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientCyclodextrin
AbsorbentMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCannabigerol
Skin ConditioningCannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Extract
AstringentDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSea Water Extract
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cyclodextrin, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysilicone-11, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Cannabigerol, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced, Sodium Phytate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Sea Water Extract, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGrifola Frondosa Extract
Skin ConditioningLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Oil
PerfumingCordyceps Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientPerilla Frutescens Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagus Racemosus Root Extract
AntimicrobialWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingLinoleic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientLinolenic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientLysolecithin
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-28
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phytic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Squalane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Grifola Frondosa Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Curcuma Longa Root Oil, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Perilla Frutescens Extract, Asparagus Racemosus Root Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lecithin, Lysolecithin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Beta-Sitosterol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Adenosine, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Cyclodextrin, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclodextrins are ring-shaped sugar molecules made from starch. It is used to stabilize, protect, and slowly release active ingredients.
This ingredient can help prevent oxidation, reduce irritation from strong actives, and make certain ingredients absorb better once applied.
Once applied to your skin, enzymes gradually break down the cyclodextrin "ring"; this releases the active ingredient in a controlled way.
Learn more about CyclodextrinGlycerin (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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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