What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPropylene Glycol
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientFructose
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDisodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCrocus Sativus Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Tranexamic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Fructose, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Aminomethyl Propanol, Yeast Extract, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Phosphatidylcholine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Soy Amino Acids, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingAroma
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Urea, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aroma, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol
Reviews
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
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 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidHydroxyacetophenone 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 NiacinamideYou might know this ingredient as pomegranate fruit. It has been shown to have antioxidant, skin soothing and anti-aging benefits.
Pomegranates are rich in antioxidant compounds such as polyphenolic compounds such as ellagic acid, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids.
Both in-vivo and in-vitro studies show pomegranate fruit helps with:
These benefits offer skin anti-aging and skin soothing benefits.
Fun fact: The name pomegranate comes from two latin words: "pome" or apple, and "granate" or "many seeded".
Pomegranate flower extract is often confused for pomegranate fruit extract, but comes from the flowers of the tree.
Learn more about Punica Granatum Fruit ExtractWater. 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