What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Seed Water
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentPolyglycerin-3
HumectantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningXylose
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Anthocyanins
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Oryza Sativa Seed Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Methylpropanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Polyglycerin-3, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Polyglutamic Acid, Panthenol, Xylose, Glycolic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Anthocyanins
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantPhytic Acid
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientGlucose
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Succinate
BufferingAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Tranexamic Acid
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantCysteic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, C12-14 Alketh-12, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Fructooligosaccharides, Phytic Acid, Bioflavonoids, Glycoproteins, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Glucose, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Succinate, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Glutathione, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Cysteic Acid
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
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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a synthetic ingredient with emollient and skin conditioner used to make skincare products feel more lightweight on the skin. It helps improve slip and spreadability without feeling greasy.
Because it is high molecular weight and lipophilic (oil loving), it remains on the surface of skin.
Methylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum