What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Oil
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Triethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tranexamic Acid, Panthenol, Squalane, Allantoin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Astaxanthin, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide As
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Fructose, Fructooligosaccharides, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sorbitol, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Madecassoside, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Ectoin, Ceramide NP, Sorbitan Laurate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Beta-Glucan, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide Ns, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide Ng, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide AP, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ceramide As, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin 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 AllantoinThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
