What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingTromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOryza Sativa
Oryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPolysilicone-15
UV FilterPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningMenadione
MaskingSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa, Oryza Sativa Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polysilicone-15, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Caprylyl Methicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glycerin, Isododecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Beta-Carotene, Menadione, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Cetearyl Alcohol, C20-22 Alcohols, Disodium EDTA, CI 77491
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 NiacinamidePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolSodium 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 Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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