What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglycerin-6
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Methylparaben
PreservativeSqualane
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingHexyldecanol
EmollientLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Retinol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingCoptis Chinensis Root Extract
AntioxidantCholesterol
EmollientTridecane
PerfumingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Isododecane, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-6, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Tromethamine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethiconol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Methylparaben, Squalane, CI 77891, Allantoin, Jojoba Esters, Polyacrylate-13, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Hexyldecanol, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Polyisobutene, Retinol, Ceramide NP, Undecane, Lactic Acid, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Cholesterol, Tridecane, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSuccinic Acid
BufferingMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trehalose, Succinic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Menthyl Lactate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 NiacinamideTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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