What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterDecyl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
Antimicrobial3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Simethicone
EmollientWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Simethicone
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningErythritol
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantBetaine
HumectantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Inulin, Erythritol, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Trehalose, Betaine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Glycosphingolipids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Gluconate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateNiacinamide 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum