What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolyvinyl Alcohol
Methylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAlgin
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientPullulan
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveKaolin
AbrasiveWater, Octyldodecanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Algin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Polysorbate 80, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Pullulan, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Panthenol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Citric Acid, Soluble Proteoglycan, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Rice Amino Acids, Silica, Kaolin
Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract
Skin ProtectingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyvinyl Alcohol
Methylpropanediol
SolventWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlgin
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningAnemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSoluble Collagen
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Madecassoside
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlutathione
Niacinamide
SmoothingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientArginine
MaskingHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialMannose
HumectantSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
PreservativeSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientAtelocollagen
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Collagen Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Algin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 80, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Pullulan, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propolis Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Collagen, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Soluble Collagen, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Cellulose Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Butylene Glycol, Glutathione, Niacinamide, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Beta-Glucan, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tranexamic Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glucose, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Mannose, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Sorbic Acid, Soluble Proteoglycan, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Atelocollagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Bakuchiol, Parfum
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 AdenosineAlgin is brown algae. Algae is an informal term for a group of aquatic organisms that can photosynthesize. It is estimated there are at least 30,000 types of Algae.
Algae contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 TriglycerideCellulose Gum is a water-soluble polymer that comes from cellulose. It is used to change the texture of a product and to help stabilize emulsions.
As an emulsifier, cellulose gum specifically thicken the texture of water-based products.
This ingredient is considered hypoallergenic and non-toxic. Cellulose Gum can be found in cosmetics, food, and other household goods such as paper products.
Learn more about Cellulose GumEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateMethylpropanediol 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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate is made by combining ten units of glycerin with oleic acid.
According to a manufacturer, it is a low-irritation and hydrophilic (water loving) skin conditioning agent. It also improves the sensory feel and texture of a product.
The Malassezia yeast survives by eating certain fats, including oleic acid. Since this ingredient is made from oleic acid, it might not be fungal acne safe. However, it should be noted this oleic acid is chemically bound to a large polyglycerol molecule, so it might not trigger fungal acne for everyone.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 OleatePolysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80We don't have a description for Polyvinyl Alcohol yet.
Pullulan is a low viscosity polysaccharide (a long chain carbohydrate) with binding and film forming properties when dissolved in water. It is used to create a "silicone-like" or silky feel in cosmetics without adding viscosity.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's ability to easily dissolves makes it a great carrier for active ingredients.
Due to it being edible and tasteless, you'll likely find this ingredient in breath freshener strips. This ingredient is produced from the starch of the fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.
Pullulan is stable over a broad-range of pH.
Learn more about PullulanJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilThis ingredient is a high molecular weight sulfonate. It is used to help stabilize ingredients and help form a gel.
You might see this ingredient called Flexan.
Soluble Proteoglycan is the name used for water-soluble proteoglycans, or large “gel-like” skin matrix molecules. These molecules help skin hold onto water and support the structure around cells.
In a small 4-week clinical study, people with mild atopic dermatitis, dry, and eczema-prone skin found using a daily emollient (soluble proteoglycan + hyaluronic acid + hydrolyzed collagen) significantly improved skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and itch.
Research also suggests that proteoglycans from sources like salmon nasal cartilage can "talk" to skin cells and encourage them to stay healthy by supporting the cells that maintain the skin's structure.
Other studies show proteoglycans may help skin recover from damage from things like UV exposure.
Learn more about Soluble ProteoglycanTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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