What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Pulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Bakuchiol, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Cetyl Palmitate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyisobutene, Myristyl Alcohol, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cyclodextrin, Adenosine, Lauryl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Glucose, Wheat Amino Acids, Natto Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Bear Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Abies Alba Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Caragana Sinica Root Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Propylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Steareth-2, Squalane, Bear Oil, Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Steareth-21, Cetyl Alcohol, Abies Alba Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Oligopeptide-1, Saccharomyces/Caragana Sinica Root Ferment Extract, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Lecithin, Propylparaben, Parfum
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideWater. 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
