What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTromethamine
BufferingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventSalicylic Acid
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPectin
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCalcium Chloride
AstringentLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPullulan
Zein
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Betaine, Gluconolactone, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tromethamine, Caffeine, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Salicylic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pectin, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Taurine, Sodium Metaphosphate, Adenosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Calcium Chloride, Lactobacillus Ferment, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Tocopherol, Pullulan, Zein
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide 5%
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientSalicylic Acid 1%
MaskingRetinol 0.3%
Skin ConditioningPerlite
AbsorbentFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingKinetin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientLaureth-23
CleansingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTrideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide 5%, Glycerin, Squalane, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, Salicylic Acid 1%, Retinol 0.3%, Perlite, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Kinetin, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Palmitate, Laureth-23, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 NiacinamideSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, itβs still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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