What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Olivate
Benzophenone-3
UV AbsorberTrehalose
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantOctocrylene
UV AbsorberAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterAcrylates/Hema Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingC13-15 Alkane
SolventPullulan
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Benzophenone-3, Trehalose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitylglucoside, Octocrylene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Acrylates/Hema Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, C13-15 Alkane, Pullulan, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Malate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingClitoria Ternatea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTrideceth-10
CleansingEDTA
Glycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingAcetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Pentylene Glycol, Diethylhexyl Malate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Niacinamide, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Cholesterol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Trideceth-10, EDTA, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Acetylphytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phytosphingosine, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Oligopeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11, Copper Tripeptide-1
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
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