What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCarum Petroselinum Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingBrassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentMel Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Deliciosa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPrunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientRosa Alba Leaf Cell Extract
AntioxidantMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantRaspberry Ketone
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caramel, Polyquaternium-51, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Carum Petroselinum Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Mel Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Actinidia Deliciosa Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rosa Alba Leaf Cell Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone, Limonene, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingInulin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingFructose
HumectantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPCA
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantWater, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, C12-13 Pareth-9, Niacinamide, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Phenethyl Alcohol, Inulin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf 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 NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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