What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSuccinic Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytic Acid
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCarrageenan
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantMentha Cardiaca Herb Oil
PerfumingArtemisia Absinthium Oil
AntimicrobialTagetes Minuta Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
AntioxidantOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Betaine, Niacinamide, Succinic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Phytic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Carrageenan, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Metabisulfite, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mentha Piperita Oil, Glycerin, Mentha Cardiaca Herb Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Oil, Tagetes Minuta Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
EmollientErgothioneine
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Ergothioneine, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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