What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventSodium PCA
HumectantMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingInulin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Citric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Propanediol, Sodium PCA, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Niacinamide, Inulin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Trehalose, Panthenol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Sodium Gluconate, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentIsocetyl Alcohol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Heptyl Undecylenate, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Isocetyl Alcohol, Ceramide NP, Cetyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide 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 Water