What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMadecassoside
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xylitylglucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glucose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateNiacinamide 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 PanthenolWater. 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