What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingDisodium EDTA
Salicylic Acid
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingZinc PCA
HumectantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGluconic Acid
Lactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDenatonium Benzoate
MaskingLactobionic Acid
BufferingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingLippia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Disodium EDTA, Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Glycolic Acid, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Mandelic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Denatonium Benzoate, Lactobionic Acid, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCitric 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 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.
Water. 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