What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTranexamic Acid
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Trehalose
HumectantTriethylene Glycol
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSucrose Stearate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tranexamic Acid, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Trehalose, Triethylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Triethanolamine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sucrose Stearate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ng, Glycosphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Caprylate
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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