What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-Crosspolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Isohexadecane
EmollientTrehalose
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Isohexadecane, Trehalose, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Oleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool
Sea Water
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycereth-26
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantMangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantMusa Sapientum Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sea Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycereth-26, Isododecane, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Acacia Senegal Gum, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate, Alpha-Arbutin, Niacinamide, Snail Secretion Filtrate, CI 15985, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, CI 17200, Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract, Glucose, Fructose, Polysorbate 20, Ascorbic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 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.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
