What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEuglena Gracilis Polysaccharide
Gel FormingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Euglena Gracilis Polysaccharide, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Bakuchiol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Octyldodecanol, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sucrose Palmitate, T-Butyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventIsohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glucosyl Ceramide
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Carboxymethyl Hyaluronate
HumectantSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
Humectant
Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylpropanediol, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Bakuchiol, Polyglutamic Acid, Glucosyl Ceramide, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phospholipids, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dipeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Sodium PCA, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, DMDM Hydantoin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
