What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Citrus Limon Fruit Water
MaskingPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, C12-14 Alketh-12, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ectoin, Betaine, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Water, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Folic Acid, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Ferulic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Coptis Japonica Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glutathione
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Resveratrol, Caprylyl Glycol, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23, Sh-Polypeptide-9
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideSodium 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 Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer and used to help stabilize other ingredients.
Emulsion stabilizers hold ingredients together, helping to create an even texture throughout the product.
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate can also be used to thicken the texture.
Learn more about Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateWater. 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
