What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventC15-19 Alkane
SolventCoco-Caprylate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate
EmollientHydrated Silica
AbrasivePrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingMannitol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate
EmulsifyingHectorite
AbsorbentSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydroxyapatite
AbrasiveSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Powder
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveGlucose
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate, Hydrated Silica, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Mannitol, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate, Hectorite, Sodium Levulinate, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxyapatite, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Powder, Sclerotium Gum, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Cellulose Gum, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Glucose, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Retinal, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Lecithin, Lactic Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAzelaic Acid
BufferingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventBakuchiol
AntimicrobialTapioca Starch
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePolymethylsilsesquioxane
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Bakuchiol, Tapioca Starch, Benzyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethyl Isosorbide is a low-irritation solvent that helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from glucose.
Research shows how well this ingredient works depends on the active and formulation rather than the concentration alone. This means adding more Dimethyl Isosorbide does not guarantee better penetration of ingredients into the skin.
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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a retinoid. It usually goes by a more common name: "Granactive".
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR) belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes retinol and tretinoin.
Retinoids have been proven to:
So what is the difference between all the retinoids?
Most retinoids need to go through a conversion line to become effective on skin. The ending product is retinoic acid. Retinoic acid is AKA tretinoin.
HPR is an ester of tretinoin. Emerging studies suggest HPR to have an added benefit that other retinoids don't have: Low irritation.
A study from 2021 found HPR to have the greatest stability when exposed to light and temperature out of all the commercial retinoids.
A note about naming:
The name "Granactive" is the trade name and the name most commonly used on packages.
Granactive is the name of the mixture - about 90% solvent and 10% HPR. A product with 5% granactive has 0.5% HPR.
Learn more about Hydroxypinacolone RetinoateNiacinamide 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