What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingBenzophenone-5
UV AbsorberHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Adenosine, Panthenol, Trehalose, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Arginine, Benzophenone-5, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, CI 17200, Parfum, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantJojoba Esters
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Jojoba Esters, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Glucoside, Polyglycerin-3, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
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.
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 preservatives
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 NiacinamideWater. 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