What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentPolylysine
Lecithin
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlutathione
Ectoin
Skin ConditioningButyrum
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Glycerin, Panthenol, Allantoin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Betaine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Trehalose, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Dextrin, Polylysine, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glutathione, Ectoin, Butyrum
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolyglycerin-3
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingGlycereth-26
HumectantCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningViola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingGleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolylactic Acid
AbrasiveMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveRetinal
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCeteth-5
EmulsifyingCeteth-3
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Water, Gluconolactone, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Tromethamine, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Soluble Collagen, C12-14 Alketh-12, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methyl Gluceth-10, Glycereth-26, Coptis Japonica Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Succinic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polylactic Acid, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Cholesterol, Silica, Retinal, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Ceteth-5, Ceteth-3, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Bakuchiol, 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
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 AdenosineAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateWater. 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