What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialBetaine
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycereth-26, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Betaine, Carbomer, Arginine, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Polyglutamic Acid, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool
Oryza Sativa Bran Water 70%
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthium Strumarium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Extract
AstringentGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Humifusa Stem Extract
AntioxidantAkebia Quinata Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water 70%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Methyl Trimethicone, Isohexadecane, Titanium Dioxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Water, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyisobutene, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Xanthium Strumarium Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Seed Extract, Opuntia Humifusa Stem Extract, Akebia Quinata Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Adenosine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-6, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium 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 NiacinamidePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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