What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCassia Angustifolia Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
MaskingEchinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract
MoisturisingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Cassia Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Caffeine, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Allantoin
Water
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Coco-Betaine
CleansingMethyl Perfluorobutyl Ether
SolventSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMannitol
HumectantSucrose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlutathione
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningMenadione
MaskingLinolenic Acid
CleansingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantSodium Riboflavin Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentMannan
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
MaskingDisodium EDTA
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Betaine, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Mannitol, Sucrose, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Biotin, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Cyanocobalamin, Menadione, Linolenic Acid, Pyridoxine Hcl, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Zea Mays Starch, Mannan, Microcrystalline Cellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, CI 15985, CI 77492, CI 77891, Parfum, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract comes from lemons. While lemon extract is exfoliating and antimicrobial, it can also cause skin sensitivity.
Lemons contains antioxidants, which may help with anti-aging. They are also rich in citric acid, an AHA.
And of course, lemons are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps with skin-brightening and increasing collagen production.
The acidity of lemons may work as an astringent for acne.
However, lemons can also cause skin sensitivity due to its limonene content. It can also increase photosensitivity, or sensitivity to the sun.
This ingredient is also used to add a lemon scent to products.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 Water