What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
C10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Octyldodecanol
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Dimethicone, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Octyldodecanol, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Anhydroxylitol
HumectantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Hexylresorcinol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.
As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.
Learn more about Isononyl IsononanoateNiacinamide 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
Itâs 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