What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Flower Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylpropanediol
SolventDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Ginseng Root
Skin ConditioningGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningRaffinose
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSucrose
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Betaine, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglycerin-3, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Methylpropanediol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyquaternium-51, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Root, Glycosyl Trehalose, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Adenosine, Raffinose, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Panthenol, Cholesterol, Sucrose, Ceramide NP, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Retinol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolCyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDisodium 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 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 NiacinamideWater. 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