What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientMethyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
PerfumingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingGlycereth-26
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cyclohexasiloxane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Glycerophosphate
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPotassium Magnesium Aspartate
BufferingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantTabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 60, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Sorbitan Stearate, Glycereth-26, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Glycerophosphate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Magnesium Aspartate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract, Collagen Extract, Hydrolyzed Elastin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantTabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sorbitan Olivate, Tromethamine, Calcium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Adenosine, Cyanocobalamin, Disodium EDTA, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Collagen Extract
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis ingredient is calcium salt of gluconic acid. It is a humectant, meaning it attracts water to your skin.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Collagen extract is derived from parts of animals. It has skin conditioning properties and is mostly comprised of glycine, proline, and hydroxypoline. These are amino acids.
While our skin does have collagen, this ingredient is not used by the skin for anti-aging. Applying collagen topically has not been linked to helping with collagen loss in skin. All the benefits of collagen are related to hydration.
This ingredient will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
Learn more about Collagen ExtractCyanocobalamin is the manufactured version of vitamin B12. It has skin soothing, antioxidant, and barrier protecting properties. Topical cyanocobalamin is used to treat skin irritation and atopic dermatitis.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed sponge comes from marine or freshwater sponges. This is the main ingredient for "spicules".
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. They help push active ingredients into the skin to enhance the penetration and efficacy of these ingredients.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamideWe don't have a description for Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract yet.
We don't have a description for Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract yet.
Tremella Fuciformis Extract comes from the tremella fuciformis mushroom, also known as snow mushroom or white jelly mushroom.
The snow mushroom has moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
Snow mushroom is rich in polysaccharides, giving it moisturizing benefits. As a humectant, snow mushroom helps draw moisture from the air to the skin. Polysaccharides are able to mimic our skin's natural carbohydrates to help the skin retain water.
Snow mushroom has been shown to help with anti-aging due to its antioxidants. It increases the presence of superoxide dismutase in our brain and liver. Superoxide is a by-product of oxygen metabolism. It left unregulated, superoxide causes cell damage. Thus, superoxide dismutase acts as an antioxidant to protect our living cells.
Another study from 2016 showed snow mushroom extract blocks the skin from creating melanin when exposed to UVB. Thus, it may help protect against the signs of aging from sun exposure. However, more studies are needed to confirm this. Another study from 2021 found snow mushroom to protect against UVA damage as well.
This white mushroom is native to Asian countries such as China, Korea, Japan, and Thailand. It is a common ingredient in traditional Chinese cuisine and medicine.
Learn more about Tremella Fuciformis ExtractWater. 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