What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTrehalose
HumectantParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGlycolic Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlutathione
Water, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene Glycol, Arbutin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Niacinamide, Betaine, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Trehalose, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glutathione
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Propylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingMusa Paradisiaca Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingTin Oxide
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Niacinamide, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Silica, CI 77891, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Caffeine, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 80, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Triethanolamine, CI 77492, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Mica, Sorbitan Oleate, Musa Paradisiaca Fruit Juice, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Tin Oxide, Potassium Sorbate, Aluminum Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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