What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Limonene, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingMalpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerAscorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 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 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 NiacinamidePolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateWater. 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