What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDibutyl Adipate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventIsoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlutathione
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantBenzyl Glycol
SolventBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen, Dibutyl Adipate, Water, Propanediol, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Glutathione, Biotin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Benzyl Glycol, Beta-Carotene, Soluble Collagen, Collagen Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberSilica
AbrasiveButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHomosalate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAmps/Hema Crosspolymer
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCoco-Glucoside
CleansingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPEG-2 Milk Solids
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingKojic Acid
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Silica, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Homosalate, Octyldodecanol, Polysorbate 20, Amps/Hema Crosspolymer, C13-15 Alkane, Coco-Glucoside, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, PEG-2 Milk Solids, Niacinamide, Kojic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Eos, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideWater. 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