What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCetearyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentWater, Niacinamide, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone, Sodium PCA, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cetearyl Methicone, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonia
BufferingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLecithin
EmollientAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTetrasodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberThiamine Hcl
MaskingPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantGlycine
BufferingFructose
HumectantUrea
BufferingInositol
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningMenadione
MaskingBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlutathione
CI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzoate
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ammonia, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Benzophenone-4, Thiamine Hcl, Pyridoxine, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 16035, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Inositol, Lactic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Menadione, Bioflavonoids, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glutathione, CI 47005, Sodium Benzoate, Biotin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolChlorphenesin 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 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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
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