What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Agar
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Ectoin, Panthenol, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Agar, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium PCA, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Dimethicone, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Octyldodecanol, CI 77491
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
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 NiacinamideSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
