What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
C12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Glycerin, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, C12-13 Pareth-9, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Beta-Glucan
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantArginine
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Betaine, Arginine, Sodium Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA
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
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 NiacinamideWater. 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