What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlcohol
AntimicrobialWater, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientZinc PCA
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Zinc PCA, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carnosine, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinNiacinamide 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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 GumZinc PCA (or "zinc salt") differs slightly from zinc itself. PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. However, Zinc PCA comes from zinc.
It can help reduce redness, regulate sebum, and promote the general healing process of the skin.
Zinc PCA tends to be especially useful for those with oily, acne-prone skin. It's certainly an ingredient worth trying out!
Learn more about Zinc PCA