What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingWater
Skin ConditioningSimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingDextrin
AbsorbentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlycine
BufferingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
AntimicrobialMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingValine
MaskingPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Water, Simethicone, Panthenol, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Dextrin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycine, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Cellulose Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Trideceth-10, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Disodium EDTA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Polyglutamic Acid, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Betaine
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
AntioxidantMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPteris Multifida Extract
AntioxidantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Water, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Pteris Multifida Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Tocopherol, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Glutathione, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
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.
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 preservatives
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 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