What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Human Bone Marrow Stem Cell Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPEG-8/Smdi Copolymer
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantBis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingHuman Bone Marrow Stem Cell Conditioned Media, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-38
Skin ConditioningOctapeptide-45
Skin ConditioningSwertia Chirata Extract
HumectantMagnolol
AntioxidantOrnithine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
AntioxidantDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingBetaine
HumectantSqualane
EmollientLecithin
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPolyisobutene
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeLevulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientP-Anisic Acid
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyacrylate-13, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-38, Octapeptide-45, Swertia Chirata Extract, Magnolol, Ornithine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ergothioneine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Phytosterols, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Squalane, Lecithin, Caprylyl Methicone, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polyisobutene, Potassium Sorbate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, P-Anisic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinNiacinamide 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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