What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Sodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativePropanediol
SolventHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGlycogen
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingGlycine
BufferingUrea
BufferingFructose
HumectantInositol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ecklonia Cava Water
Skin ProtectingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, DMDM Hydantoin, Propanediol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Collagen, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Glycogen, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dna, Lactic Acid, Glycine, Urea, Fructose, Inositol, Niacinamide, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ecklonia Cava Water
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantBetaine
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Allantoin, Pisum Sativum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolGlycerin (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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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