What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantIsohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Parfum
MaskingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingRosa Rugosa Flower Water
MaskingGlucose
HumectantTin Oxide
AbrasiveSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, C14-22 Alcohols, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Parfum, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, CI 77891, Sorbitan Oleate, Rosa Rugosa Flower Water, Glucose, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantBetaine
HumectantRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCallicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSorbeth-30
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Betaine, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Yeast Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sorbeth-30, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Limonene
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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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