What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Cysteamine Hcl
AntioxidantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Hybrida Herb Oil
PerfumingTannic Acid
AstringentDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyacrylamide, Cysteamine Hcl, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Laureth-7, Allantoin, Lavandula Hybrida Herb Oil, Tannic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingIsopentyldiol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCitrus Junos Peel Oil
AstringentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingGlutathione
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingRetinal
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Limonene
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Isopentyldiol, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycerin, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gluconolactone, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Glutathione, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Ferulic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Retinal, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Disodium EDTA, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
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 PropanediolWater. 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