What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Arginine
Masking
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCetearyl Olivate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Arginine, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Salicylic Acid, C15-19 Alkane, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Bakuchiol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCanola Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientZinc PCA
Humectant
Rheum Rhabarbarum Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Isatis Tinctoria Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Canola Oil, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Propanediol, Hydrated Silica, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Niacinamide, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zinc PCA, Rheum Rhabarbarum Extract, Salicylic Acid, Isatis Tinctoria Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Ethyl Ferulate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Propanediol 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 PropanediolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
