What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-3
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-16
Skin ProtectingSh-Polypeptide-62
AntioxidantSh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-22
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-60
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingHordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Angularis Seed Extract
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Silica, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Chloride, Trihydroxystearin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-16, Sh-Polypeptide-62, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Polypeptide-60, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caffeine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Niacinamide 5%
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantPropanediol
SolventMethylpropanediol
SolventBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentGlutathione
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Majorana Leaf Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialChitosan
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningNicotinoyl Dipeptide-23
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantLecithin
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCholeth-24
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Vinyldimethicone, Niacinamide 5%, Betaine, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Alpha-Arbutin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Glutathione, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Bisabolol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Chitosan, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glucose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Citrate, Dipeptide-2, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Lecithin, Dextrin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Linolenic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Choleth-24, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl Glycol, Steareth-20, Alcohol Denat., T-Butyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolNiacinamide 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 Niacinamidesh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide found naturally in our bodies. Peptides are the building blocks for collagen and elastin in our skin.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is bioengineered to be identical to a human gene that codes for epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF are signal molecules that simulate cell growth and healing.
Studies find EGF help with:
In South Korea and China, EGF is considered a controversial ingredient. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has cracked down on companies with products including EGF due to false advertisement claims.
According to Dr. Zoe Draelos, growth factors have some drawbacks:
There is also controversy surrounding growth factors. The controversy is due to their mitogenic activity, or their ability to increase the number of cells. It is best to avoid using growth factors if you have psoriasis or are at risk of skin cancer. However, it should be noted EGF are not mutagenic - meaning they will not cause cancer.
Learn more about Sh-Oligopeptide-1Water. 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