What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantEctoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTrehalose
HumectantLinoleic Acid
CleansingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingBrassica Alba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOligopeptide-195
Oligopeptide-196
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-197
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-198
Oligopeptide-199
Oligopeptide-6
Skin ConditioningPolylysine
Linolenic Acid
CleansingWater, Isopropyl Myristate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Tocopherol, Ectoin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Panthenol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Biotin, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Trehalose, Linoleic Acid, Adenosine, Cyclodextrin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Arginine, Brassica Alba Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-195, Oligopeptide-196, Oligopeptide-197, Oligopeptide-198, Oligopeptide-199, Oligopeptide-6, Polylysine, Linolenic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingTetradecane
PerfumingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSucrose Palmitate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDilauryl Thiodipropionate
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Tetradecane, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Oleate, Sucrose Palmitate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneNiacinamide 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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