What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Pantothenate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Amylodextrin
AbsorbentFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Acetic Acid
BufferingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopheryl Linoleate
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Polyquaternium-51, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose Gum, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Ceramide NP, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Pantothenate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Amylodextrin, Folic Acid, Maltodextrin, Acetic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Biotin, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Cholesterol, Lactic Acid, Raffinose, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pyridoxine Hcl, Glycolic Acid, Silica, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenethyl Alcohol
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Sterols, Retinol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Dimethicone, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium PCA, Ceramide NP, Niacinamide, Phenethyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Citrate
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
Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPGlycerin (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 NiacinamideSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
