What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientC13-16 Isoalkane
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPolyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, C13-16 Isoalkane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Limonene, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Citric Acid, CI 19140, CI 14700, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-34
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLindera Strychnifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
EmollientLamium Album Extract
AstringentPlantago Psyllium Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantGlycine
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caffeine, Copper Tripeptide-34, Niacinamide, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biotin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carbomer, Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Lamium Album Extract, Plantago Psyllium Seed Extract, Panthenol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Glycine, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone, Zinc Chloride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Caramel
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 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 Water