What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCetyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Oenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientLactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGeraniol
PerfumingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate
EmollientWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Cetyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Parfum, Stearic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Limonene, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Benzoate, Cellulose Gum, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Linalool, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citral, Citronellol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Maltodextrin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Limon Peel
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantEpilobium Fleischeri Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSargassum Muticum Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sclerotium Gum, Citrus Limon Peel, Niacinamide, Betaine, Sodium Levulinate, Saccharide Isomerate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Epilobium Fleischeri Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sargassum Muticum Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
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 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 NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium levulinate is the a sodium salt of Levulinic Acid. Oncedissolved in an aqueous solution, the two ingredients become identical. It is usually derived from renewable plant sources like corn starch or sugarcane.
In skincare, it mostly acts as a skin conditioning agent that keeps skin soft and hydrated. It also acts as a preservative booster by inhibiting the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria.
It's often paired with Sodium Anisate as the two create a broad-spectrum preservative system that is popular in "natural" formulations.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be non-irritated and there are no restrictions for use in EU cosmetics. The FDA also allows this ingredient to be used as a food-grade flavoring agent.
Learn more about Sodium LevulinateWater. 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