What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientBetaine
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
AntioxidantSucrose Distearate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Ether, Betaine, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cholesterol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Beta-Glucan, Retinal, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Fructooligosaccharides, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Sucrose Distearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Tripeptide-1, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventC15-19 Alkane
SolventCoco-Caprylate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate
EmollientHydrated Silica
AbrasivePrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingMannitol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate
EmulsifyingHectorite
AbsorbentSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydroxyapatite
AbrasiveSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Powder
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveGlucose
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate, Hydrated Silica, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Mannitol, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate, Hectorite, Sodium Levulinate, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxyapatite, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Powder, Sclerotium Gum, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Cellulose Gum, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Glucose, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Retinal, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Lecithin, Lactic Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Tocopherol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolRetinal (aka retinaldehyde) is a form of retinoid that formulators use mainly as an antiaging and skin-renewing active.
What makes it special is its position in the retinoid family; skin converts it to retinoic acid (the prescription gold standard) in just one step.
Because retinal only requires 1 conversion step to become retinoic acid, it's the strongest over-the-counter retinoid. It also works at lower concentrations than retinol, since retinal is about 10x more bioavailable.
Studies back up its efficacy in skin:
A foundational trial showed that applying 0.05-0.5% retinal for 1-3 months produced a dose-dependent and significant increase in epidermal thickness + cell turnover markers.
And a head-to-head comparison of 0.05% retinal against a 0.05% retinoid acid found both formulations were effective for the basis of wrinkle/skin roughness features, but retinoic acid caused more local irritation.
More recent controlled trials confirm it improves wrinkles, dermal density, and firmness over 12-24 weeks, with significant improvements in skin texture and firmness (particularly with the higher 0.1% concentration).
Retinal also has one trick the other retinoids do not: it directly fights against acne bacteria since a clinical study showed retinaldehyde-treated areas displayed a significant decrease in counts of viable P. acnes.
This makes it a great pick for people who want to treat aging and breakouts.
Typical cosmetic use sits in the 0.05-0.1% range with 0.05% being the gentle starting point and 0.1% giving stronger results.
Like all retinoids, retinal works best with nightly use, a good moisturizer, and daytime sunscreen. It can cause some irritation so ease into it slowly rather than going all in.
The "ramp up" method works well: start with Retinal once a week to give your skin time to adjust, which keeps irritation low.
Slowly add more nights until you reach your goal frequency once your skin feels comfortable.
Retinoids also make your skin more sensitive to the sun in the first few weeks, so wear sunscreen every morning and protect your skin from direct sun while you build up tolerance.
Learn more about RetinalSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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