What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract 20%
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTriisostearin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
SolventGlucose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Phytate
Trehalose
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Tremella Fuciformis Extract 20%, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Soluble Collagen, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Triisostearin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propanediol, Glucose, Panthenol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ceramide NP, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Phytate, Trehalose, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum
Collagen Extract 73%
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientRose Extract
Skin ConditioningWine Extract
AntioxidantSucrose
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Mineral Salts
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantOligopeptide-3
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCollagen Extract 73%, Butylene Glycol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Cellulose Gum, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylyl Methicone, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Rose Extract, Wine Extract, Sucrose, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Mineral Salts, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Laurate, Tocopherol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phosphate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Oligopeptide-3, Parfum
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 AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinMethylpropanediol 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 NiacinamidePolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is created from the diester of stearic acid and the condensation product of methylglucose and Polyglycerin-3.
As an emulsifier, it is used to bind ingredients together. Many ingredients, such as oils and water, separate naturally. Emulsifiers prevent them from separating to ensure even consistency in texture.
One of the manufacturer for this ingredient states it is vegetable-based. It is also claimed to be stable at both high and low temperatures.
This ingredient may not be safe for fungal acne. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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