What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantVinyldimethicone
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOriganum Majorana Leaf Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingYeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethiconol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientNicotinoyl Dipeptide-23
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentGlutathione
Bisabolol
AntioxidantHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Vinyldimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Methylpropanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Origanum Majorana Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Yeast Ferment Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethiconol, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Caprylyl Glycol, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23, Tranexamic Acid, Glutathione, Bisabolol, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Citric Acid, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Citrate, Steareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol Denat., Disodium EDTA, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Arachidonate
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantArginine
MaskingSucrose Distearate
EmollientPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Glycerin
HumectantThiamine Hcl
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Beta-Glucan, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Phytosphingosine, Polyacrylic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Biotin, Pyridoxine, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Ceramide NP, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Panthenol, Carbomer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Arginine, Sucrose Distearate, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Thiamine Hcl, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Polysorbate 80, Ethyl Hexanediol, Retinyl Palmitate
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
Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 TriglycerideCeramide 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 NPDisodium 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated 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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl 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